In 1934, the first group of federal prisoners classified as “especially dangerous” arrived on Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcrop 1.5 miles off the coast of San Francisco Bay.

In 1943, German forces began evacuating Sicily in Italy because they were threatened by the Allies during World War II.

In 1952, the Jordanian parliament deposed King Talal on the grounds of mental incapacity and appointed his 17-year-old son as King Hussein. The young king ruled for 43 years until his death on February 7, 1999.

In 1954, the seven-year war in Indochina between France and the forces of the communist Viet Minh was officially ended.

In 1965, riots broke out in the Watts district of Los Angeles. During the six days of violence, 34 people were killed.

In 1984, US President Ronald Reagan joked in an off-air speech caught by television cameras: “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to announce to you today that I have signed a law that will forever outlaw Russia. We will start bombing in 5 minutes.” The Kremlin was not amused.

UPI file photo

In 1991, the Lebanese militant group Revolutionary Justice Organization released 60-year-old US hostage Edward Tracy, who had been held captive for nearly five years.

In 1993, US President Bill Clinton approved the Brady Bill, a handgun control measure, and signed an executive order banning the import of semi-automatic assault firearms.

In 1997, Bill Clinton became the first U.S. president to exercise the line-item veto power granted to him by Congress the previous year.

In 1998, two boys, ages 12 and 14, were found “delinquent” (the equivalent of a guilty verdict in juvenile court) in connection with the fatal shooting of four students and a teacher at their middle school in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

In 1999, the Kansas State Department of Education decided to remove the theory of evolution from the public school curriculum.

In 2007, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America decided to refrain from disciplining clergy who engage in same-sex relationships.

In 2009, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the younger sister of President John F. Kennedy, mother of former California First Lady Maria Shriver and founder of the Special Olympics, died in a hospital in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She was 88 years old. She devoted much of her life to raising funds for people with intellectual disabilities and raising awareness of their causes.

File photo by Doug Mills/UPI

In 2014, Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died in Tiburon, California, at the age of 63. “This is a sudden and tragic loss,” said his publicist. Williams’ wife Susan Schneider said, “The world has lost one of its most beloved artists and wonderful people.” Williams’ death was ruled a suicide.

In 2016, Michael Phelps became the first swimmer to win four consecutive Olympic gold medals in a single event.

In 2020, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden chose Senator Kamala Harris (D-California) as his running mate. She became the first female vice president when Biden was elected president on November 3, 2020.

In 2021, Sicily set the new record for the highest temperature recorded in Europe at 119.84 degrees Fahrenheit.