November 23 - This day in History

November 23: General Interest
1936: First issue of Life is published

On November 23, 1936, the first issue of the pictorial magazine Life is published, featuring a cover photo of the Fort Peck Dam by Margaret Bourke-White. Life actually had its start earlier in the 20th century as a different kind of magazine... read more


American Revolution
1749 : Reluctant Patriot Edward Rutledge is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/reluctant-patriot-edward-rutledge-is-born


Automotive
1966 : Elvis Presley's "Spinout" opens in U.S. theaters
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/elvis-presleys-spinout-opens-in-us-theaters


Civil War
1819 : Union General Benjamin Prentiss is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/-benjamin-mayberry-prentiss-born


Cold War
1981 : Reagan gives CIA authority to establish the Contras
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/reagan-gives-cia-authority-to-establish-the-contras


Crime
1959 : The Birdman of Alcatraz is allowed a small taste of freedom
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-birdman-of-alcatraz-is-allowed-a-small-taste-of-freedom


Disaster
1980 : Southern Italy rocked by earthquake
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/southern-italy-rocked-by-earthquake


General Interest
1499 : Flemish pretender executed in London
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/flemish-pretender-executed-in-london

1859 : Billy the Kid born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/billy-the-kid-born

1876 : "Boss" Tweed delivered to authorities
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/boss-tweed-delivered-to-authorities

1979 : IRA member sentenced for Mountbatten's assassination
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ira-member-sentenced-for-mountbattens-assassination


Hollywood
1990 : Charlie and the Chocolate Factory creator Roald Dahl dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-creator-roald-dahl-dies

2012 : Larry Hagman, star of "Dallas" and "I Dream of Jeannie," dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/larry-hagman-star-of-dallas-and-i-dream-of-jeannie-dies


Literary
1874 : Far from the Madding Crowd, by Thomas Hardy, is published
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/far-from-the-madding-crowd-by-thomas-hardy-is-published


Music
1936 : Blues legend Robert Johnson makes first-ever recording
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/blues-legend-robert-johnson-makes-first-ever-recording


Old West
1903 : Colorado governor sends militia to Cripple Creek
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/colorado-governor-sends-militia-to-cripple-creek


Presidential
1804 : Franklin Pierce is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franklin-pierce-is-born


Sports
1984 : BC wins on Hail Mary
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bc-wins-on-hail-mary


Vietnam War
1970 : Laird discloses the details of the Son Tay Raid
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/laird-discloses-the-details-of-the-son-tay-raid

1972 : Paris peace talks deadlocked
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/paris-peace-talks-deadlocked


World War I
1915 : Battle of Ctesiphon in Mesopotamia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-ctesiphon-in-mesopotamia


World War II
1940 : Romania becomes an Axis "power"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/romania-becomes-an-axis-power