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Nazis launch Kristallnacht

Born on This Day

Carl Sagan

1934 - 1996

Astrophysicist, author and science communicator behind book and TV series, "Cosmos." Advocated searching for alien life.

Dorothy Dandridge

1922 - 1965

American performer who became the first Black woman nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, for 1954's "Carmen Jones."

Ryan Murphy

1965 -

Prolific writer, director and producer who created TV hits such as "Glee" and "American Horror Story."

Carl SaganGetty Images

Dorothy DandridgeGetty Images

Ryan MurphyWireImage

1985

NOV9

Soviet-born Garry Kasparov, 22, beats Anatoly Karpov to become the youngest world chess champion. Eleven years later, he defeated Deep Blue, IBM's powerful custom-built chess computer, then lost to an upgraded Deep Blue the following year.

Timeline

Also on This Day in History

Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on November 9th

Ambrose Burnside assumes command of the Army of the Potomac

On November 9, 1862, General Ambrose Burnside formally assumes command of the Union Army of the Potomac following the removal of George B. McClellan. McClellan was well liked by many soldiers, and had a loyal following among some in the command structure. However, others detested him, and his successor would have a difficult time reconciling […]

Jean-Paul Sartre denounces communism

The French philosopher and author Jean-Paul Sartre—long an admirer of the Soviet Union—denounces both the USSR and its communist system following the brutal Soviet invasion of Hungary. Jean-Paul Sartre, born in Paris in 1905, was a leading exponent of existentialism, a philosophical movement that celebrates the freedom of individual human existence while mourning its inherent […]

The Great Northeast Blackout

At dusk on November 9, 1965, one of the biggest power failures in history occurs as all of New York state, portions of seven nearby states, and parts of eastern Canada are plunged into darkness. The Great Northeast Blackout began at the height of rush hour, delaying millions of commuters, trapping 800,000 people in New […]

Antiwar protestor sets himself afire

In the second such antiwar incident within a week, Roger Allen LaPorte, a 22-year-old member of the Catholic Worker movement, immolates himself in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York. Before dying the next day, LaPorte declared, “I’m against wars, all wars. I did this as a religious act.” LaPorte’s act of protest […]

Supreme Court refuses to rule on legality of Vietnam War

The Supreme Court refuses to hear a challenge by the state of Massachusetts regarding the constitutionality of the Vietnam War. By a 6-3 vote, the justices rejected the effort of the state to bring a suit in federal court in defense of Massachusetts residents claiming protection under a state law that allowed them to refuse […]

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A Sunday school teacher murders his family and goes undercover for 18 years

John Emil List slaughters his entire family in their Westfield, New Jersey, home and then disappears. Though police quickly identified List as the most likely suspect in the murders, it took 18 years for them to locate him and close the case. John List was an outwardly normal and successful father. A Sunday school teacher […]

East Germany opens the Berlin Wall

East German officials open the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, allowing travel from East to West Berlin. The following day, celebrating Germans began to tear the wall down. One of the ugliest and most infamous symbols of the Cold War was soon reduced to rubble that was quickly snatched up by souvenir hunters. The East […]

Willie Nelson’s assets are seized by the IRS

On November 9, 1990, the federal government seizes all of the assets of country singer Willie Nelson—freezing his bank accounts and padlocking his real estate holdings. The beloved entertainer had been struggling to repay a $16.7 million dollar tax debt. Willie Nelson landed himself in tax trouble as a result of investments he made in […]

Best-selling Millennium trilogy author Stieg Larsson dies at 50

On November 9, 2004, Swedish writer Stieg Larsson dies suddenly of a heart attack at age 50, only months after turning in the manuscripts for three crime thrillers—“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Girl who Played with Fire” and “The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest”—which would later become international best-sellers. Known collectively as […]

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