March 23 - The Day in History

March 23 : General Interest 1839: OK enters national vernacular On this day in 1839, the initials "O.K." are first published in The Boston Morning Post. Meant as an abbreviation for "oll correct," a popular slang misspelling of "all correct" at the time, OK steadily made its way into the everyday speech of Americans... read more American Revolution 1775 : Patrick Henry voices American opposition to British policy http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/patrick-henry-voices-american-opposition-to-british-policy Automotive 1937 : Craig Breedlove, land-speed record holder, born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/craig-breedlove-land-speed-record-holder-born Civil War 1862 : Rebels suffer defeat at the First Battle of Kernstown http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jackson-is-defeated-at-kernstown Cold War 1983 : Reagan calls for new antimissile technology http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/reagan-calls-for-new-antimissile-technology Crime 1979 : Two men sentenced in murder of former Chilean diplomat http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/two-men-sentenced-in-murder-of-former-chilean-diplomat Disaster 1913 : Tornadoes devastate Nebraska http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tornadoes-devastate-nebraska General Interest 1919 : Mussolini founds the Fascist party http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mussolini-founds-the-fascist-party 1983 : Artificial-heart patient dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/artificial-heart-patient-dies 1994 : Leading Mexican presidential candidate assassinated http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/leading-mexican-presidential-candidate-assassinated Hollywood 1998 : James Cameron's Titanic wins 11 Academy Awards http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-camerons-titanic-wins-11-academy-awards 2011 : Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hollywood-icon-elizabeth-taylor-dies-at-79 Literary 1999 : Thomas Harris delivers Hannibal manuscript http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-harris-delivers-hannibal-manuscript Music 1969 : Jim Morrison prompts a "Rally for Decency" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jim-morrison-prompts-a-quotrally-for-decencyquot Old West 1806 : Lewis and Clark depart Fort Clatsop http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lewis-and-clark-depart-fort-clatsop Presidential 1962 : Jackie Kennedy receives horse from governor of Pakistan http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jackie-kennedy-receives-horse-from-governor-of-pakistan Sports 1994 : Wayne Gretzky scores number 802 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wayne-gretzky-scores-number-802 Vietnam War 1961 : U.S. plane shot down over Laos http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-plane-shot-down-over-laos 1970 : Prince Sihanouk issues a call for arms http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/prince-sihanouk-issues-a-call-for-arms World War I 1918 : Paris hit by shells from new German gun http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paris-hit-by-shells-from-new-german-gun World War II 1944 : Germans slaughter Italian civilians http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-slaughter-italian-civilians