President Wilson Sails to Europe
On December 4, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson boarded a boat to Paris, becoming the first siting president to travel to Europe. He spent six months in France for the World War I peace talks in Paris.
International History
Birth of Sir Rowland Hill
Sir Rowland Hill was born on December 3, 1795, in Kidderminster, England. Hill revolutionized the postal system by establishing a uniform minimum price of one penny, leading to the creation of the first postage stamp.
Eisenhower Visits Korea
On November 29, 1952, president-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower filled a campaign promise to visit Korea. He had been critical of Harry Truman’s handling of the Korean conflict and promised he would visit and bring an end to the war.
Skywriting in America
On November 28, 1922, skywriting was first used for advertising in American skies. It quickly grew in popularity, with advertisers finding a new way to deliver messages to a wider audience.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Opens
On November 21, 1964, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge first opened to traffic. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, and remains the longest bridge in America today.
20th Universal Postal Union Congress
On November 13, 1989, the 20th Universal Postal Union Congress opened in Washington, DC. It was the first time the Congress convened in the US since 1897.
Moina Michael’s Poppy Campaign
On November 9, 1918, Moina Michael penned her poem, “We Shall Keep the Faith,” and resolved to wear a red poppy every day in remembrance of the fallen. She became known as the “Poppy Lady.”
Happy Birthday, Martha Gellhorn
One of the world’s first female war correspondents, Martha Ellis Gellhorn, was born on November 8, 1908, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Birth of Ignacy Paderewski
Ignacy Jan Paderewski was born on November 6, 1860, in Kuryłówka, Podolia (in present-day Ukraine). He was an accomplished pianist and composer as well as the first Prime Minister of independent Poland.