In 1917, infamous spy Mata Hari was executed by a firing squad outside Paris. In 1951, I Love Lucy, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, premiered on CBS. In 1966, the Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland, California. In 2003, China became the third nation (after the U.S. and Russia) to launch a crewed space mission. In 2005, Iraqis voted to approve a new constitution.

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), philosopher; John L. Sullivan (1858-1918), boxer; P. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975), author; Arthur Schlesinger Jr. (1917-2007), historian; Mario Puzo (1920-99), author/screenwriter; Lee Iacocca (1924- ), business leader; Michel Foucault (1926-84), philosopher; Fela Kuti (1938-97), composer/musician; Penny Marshall (1943- ), filmmaker/actress; Jim Palmer (1945- ), baseball player; Emeril Lagasse (1959- ), chef/TV personality; Dominic West (1969- ), actor; Carlo Janka (1986- ), Olympic skier

In 1989, Wayne Gretzky, playing for the L.A. Kings, tied and broke Gordie Howe's career scoring record of 1,850 points.

Caroline and John F. Kennedy Jr., President Kennedy's children, brought pet pony Macaroni with them to the White House.

"Sometimes we remain true to a cause simply because its opponents are unfailingly tasteless." – Friedrich Nietzsche