On This Day in History - October 17th - Almanac

Today is Monday, Oct. 17, the 290th day of 2022 with 75 to follow.

The moon is waning. Morning stars are Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Saturn and Uranus.

Those born on this day are under the sign of Libra. They include Jupiter Hammon, America's first published black poet, in 1711; Pope John Paul I in 1912; playwright Arthur Miller in 1915; actor Rita Hayworth in 1918; football Hall of Fame member Don Coryell in 1924; diet developer Dr. Robert Atkins in 1930; newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin in 1930; astronaut William Anders in 1933 (age 89); daredevil Robert "Evel" Knievel in 1938; singer Jim Seals in 1941; singer Gary Puckett in 1942 (age 80); Olympic gold medal-winning pole vaulter Bob Seagren in 1946 (age 76); actor Michael McKean in 1947 (age 75); actor Margot Kidder in 1948; actor George Wendt in 1948 (age 74); astronaut Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, in 1956 (age 66); country singer Alan Jackson in 1958 (age 64); comedian Norm Macdonald in 1959; actor/writer Mark Gatiss in 1966 (age 56); musician Ziggy Marley in 1968 (age 54); golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els in 1969 (age 53); singer Wyclef Jean in 1969 (age 53); singer Chris Kirkpatrick in 1971 (age 51); rapper Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, in 1972 (age 50); MMA fighter Holly Holm in 1981 (age 41); actor Felicity Jones in 1983 (age 39); actor Max Irons in 1985 (age 37); actor Jacob Artist in 1992 (age 30).

On this date in history:

In 1931, gangster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion. It took jurors four days to decide whether the mobster had cheated the Internal Revenue Service out of $215,000.

In 1933, German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein fled Nazi Germany, settling in the United States and becoming an American citizen in 1940.

In 1945, Juan Peron became dictator of Argentina. He remained in power for 11 years before being overthrown.

In 1949, British steamer Anhui reported taking fire from Communist China's army as it sailed for Hong Kong with 1,400 passengers aboard. Ship's officers said the vessel was under fire for 15 minutes, resulting in three dead and 25 injured.

In 1964, reconnaissance flights made by the U-2 played a role in obtaining for the United States advance information on Red China's first nuclear blast.

In 1965, following a two-year run that saw more than 51 million people walk through its gates, the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair closed its doors. With a theme of "Peace Through Understanding," the fair was a showcase for science and technology and lives on in the Unisphere, a 12-story high model of the world which dominates Flushing Meadow.

In 1973, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an oil embargo on countries supporting Israel in its war with Egypt, Syria and Jordan. The ensuing energy crisis drove up gasoline prices and created a shortage in the United States, prompting long lines at the pump.

In 1979, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a Roman Catholic nun who cared for the sick and poor, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1986, Congress passed a landmark immigration bill, the first U.S. law authorizing penalties for employers who hire undocumented immigrants.

In 1989, the most powerful California earthquake since the legendary tremblor of 1906 struck the San Francisco Bay area at the evening rush hour. At least 63 people were killed and hundreds of others injured.The quake hit just before the scheduled start of Game 3 of the World Series in San Francisco between the Giants and the Oakland A's.

In 2001 the U.S. Congress closed for security sweeps after 321 staff members and police officers tested positive for exposure to anthrax.

In 2010, at least 60 people died and 50 others were hurt in violence that preceded special parliamentary elections in Karachi, Pakistan.

In 2017, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said it cleared Raqqa, the Islamic State's de facto Syrian capital, of all militant fighters. The Second Battle of Raqqa had begun June 6, 2017.

In 2020, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a landslide victory for a second term.

A thought for the day: "Older men declare war but it is youth that must fight and die." -- U.S. President Herbert Hoover