| 2000 | The father of six-year-old Elian Gonzalez arrives in the US, requesting Elain's return to Cuba.
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| 1998 | Country music singer Tammy Wynette dies in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 55.
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| 1996 | Actress Greer Garson dies in Dallas, Texas, at age 92
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| 1994 | The presidents of the African nations of Rwanda and Burundi are killed in a plane crash.
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| 1994 | After 24 years on the bench, US Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun announces his retirement.
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| 1992 | Futurist/author Isaac Asimov dies of heart and kidney failure at age 72.
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| 1991 | Iraq agrees to UN conditions ending the Persian Gulf War.
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| 1985 | William Schroeder becomes the first recipient of an artificial heart to be discharged from the hospital and allowed to live a normal life (Louisville, KY).
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| 1931 | Little Orphan Annie debuts on the NBC radio Blue Network.
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| 1917 | Congress approves a declaration of war against Germany, starting US involvement in WWI.
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| 1909 | Robert Peary and Matthew H. Henson become the first men to reach the North Pole.
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| 1896 | Athens, Greece, hosts the first Olympic Games of the modern era.
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| 1869 | Celluloid, the first plastic material, is patented.
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| 1862 | The Battle of Shiloh takes place during the US Civil War.
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| 1830 | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is founded by Joseph Smith in Fayette, NY.
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1789 | 
The US Congress counts the ballots cast during the first presidential election.
George Washington is unanimously elected president.
(John Adams is elected vice president).
(photo credit: NARA)
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