7.......Historical Facts....2/15/16

HISTORICAL FACTS FROM FEBRUARY 12th TO FEBRUARY 18TH

February 12, 1999.........The impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in the U.S. Senate ended. With the whole world watching via television, Senators stood up one by one during the final roll call to vote 'guilty' or 'not guilty'. On Article I charging Clinton with perjury) 55 senators, including 10 Republicans and all 45 Democrats voted not guilty. On Article 2(charging Clinton with obstruction of justice) the Senate split evenly, 50 for and 50 against the President. With the necessary two-thirds majority not having been achieved, President Clinton was thus acquitted on both charges and served out the remainder of his term of office lasting through January 20, 2001.

February 13, 1635.........Boston Latin School, the first tax payer supported (public) school in America was established in Boston Massachusetts.

February 14, 1849.......Photographer Matthew Brady took the first photograph of a U.S. President in office, James Polk.

February 15, 1898.......In Havana, the U.S. Battleship Maine, was blown up while at anchor and quickly sank with 260 crew members lost. The incident inflamed public opinion in the U.S. resulting in a declaration of war against Spain on April 25, 1898, amid cries of "Remember the Maine!"

February 16, 1935.........Entertainer and politician Sonny Bono was born in Detroit, Michigan. Following a career as a popular singer, he became mayor of Palm Springs, California, then became a Republican congressman, serving until his accidental death from a skiing accident.

February 17, 1865.........During the American Civil War, Fort Sumter in South Carolina was returned to the Union after nearly a year and a half under Confederate control. The fort had been the scene of the first shots of the war.

February 18, 1892..........American politician Wendell Willkie was born in Elwood, Illinois. He was the Republican nominee for president in 1940, running against Franklin D. Roosevelt.