April 25 - This Day in History

April 25 : General Interest
1983: Andropov writes to U.S. student

On this day in 1983, the Soviet Union releases a letter that Russian leader Yuri Andropov wrote to Samantha Smith, an American fifth-grader from Manchester, Maine, inviting her to visit his country... read more


American Revolution
1781 : Cornwallis retreats from Guilford Courthouse
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cornwallis-retreats-from-guilford-courthouse

Automotive
2001 : Italian Formula One driver dies in crash
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italian-formula-one-driver-dies-in-crash

Civil War
1864 : Confederates overwhelm Union at Marks' Mills
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-marks-mills-arkansas

Cold War
1983 : Andropov writes to an American fifth-grader
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/andropov-writes-to-an-american-fifth-grader

Crime
1989 : A father is exonerated after 21 years
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-father-is-exonerated-after-21-years

Disaster
1980 : Air tragedy hits Canary Islands
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/air-tragedy-hits-canary-islands

General Interest
1859 : Ground broken for Suez Canal
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ground-broken-for-suez-canal
1990 : Space telescope in orbit
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/space-telescope-in-orbit

Hollywood
1995 : Ginger Rogers dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ginger-rogers-dies

Literary
1719 : Robinson Crusoe is published
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/robinson-crusoe-is-published

Music
1917 : Ella Fitzgerald is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ella-fitzgerald-is-born

Old West
1831 : A play lionizing Davy Crockett opens
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-play-lionizing-davy-crockett-opens

Presidential
1947 : Truman inaugurates White House bowling alley
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/truman-inaugurates-white-house-bowling-alley

Sports
1964 : Maple Leafs win third Stanley Cup in a row
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/maple-leafs-win-third-stanley-cup-in-a-row

Vietnam War
1964 : Johnson announces appointment of Westmoreland
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/johnson-announces-appointment-of-westmoreland
1972 : North Vietnamese Army close to cutting South Vietnam in two
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/north-vietnamese-army-close-to-cutting-south-vietnam-in-two

World War I
1915 : Allies begin invasion of Gallipoli
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/allies-begin-invasion-of-gallipoli

World War II
1945 : Americans and Russians link up, cut Germany in two
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/americans-and-russians-link-up-cut-germany-in-two