FDR Elected to Record Fourth Term
On November 7, 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt made history as the first—and only—US president elected to a fourth term. His remarkable political career reshaped both the country’s government and its role in the world.
Government
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America’s First Female Governor Elected
On November 4, 1924, Wyoming once again lived up to its nickname, “The Equality State,” when voters elected Nellie Tayloe Ross as the first female governor in American history. Her election was another milestone in Wyoming’s long record of advancing women’s rights and political equality.
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Birth of Vilhjalmur Stefansson
On November 3, 1879, Arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson was born in Manitoba, Canada. Over the course of his life, he became one of the most influential and controversial figures in Arctic exploration—celebrated for his discoveries and criticized for the tragic misfortunes that accompanied some of his expeditions.
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South Dakota Admitted to the Union
On November 2, 1889, South Dakota became the 40th state in the Union. Its admission marked the culmination of decades of westward expansion, frontier settlement, and shifting territorial boundaries that shaped the northern Great Plains into a permanent part of the United States.
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Library of Congress Opens to the Public
On November 1, 1897, the doors of America’s Library of Congress opened to the public, offering a glimpse into a growing national treasure and the knowledge of the world. From its humble beginnings in the US Capitol to its status today as one of the largest libraries on Earth, the Library of Congress has played a vital role in preserving the intellectual and cultural heritage of the United States.
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The Alaska Highway
On October 28, 1942, construction was completed on one of the most ambitious engineering projects of World War II — the 1,700-mile Alaska Highway. What began as a desperate military necessity became one of the great infrastructure achievements of the 20th century, linking Alaska to the continental United States for the first time by land.
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John Jay Becomes First Supreme Court Chief Justice
On October 19, 1789, John Jay was sworn in as the first chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, becoming the head of a new judicial branch that would help define the rule of law in the young country. Though the event was modest in ceremony, it marked the beginning of one of the most important institutions in American government.
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US Takes Possession of Puerto Rico
On October 18, 1898, US troops raised the American flag over Puerto Rico for the first time, marking the island’s transition to American control. The event followed Spain’s defeat in the Spanish-American War and began a new era of US governance in the Caribbean.
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Reunification of Germany
On October 3, 1990, East and West Germany were officially reunited after decades of division. This event marked the end of one of the most striking symbols of the Cold War—the separation of a nation and its people. For Germans, it was not only a political event, but also an emotional and cultural homecoming that reshaped Europe.
