1945

The George Orwell novel “Animal Farm,” an allegorical satire of Soviet communism, was first published.

1959

Trumpeter Miles Davis released “Kind of Blue,” regarded as one of the most influential jazz albums ever.

1998

President Bill Clinton gave grand jury testimony via closed-circuit television from the White House concerning his relationship with Monica Lewinsky; he then delivered a TV address in which he admitted his relationship with Lewinsky was “wrong” but denied previously committing perjury (Clinton was subsequently impeached by the House of Representatives, but was acquitted in the Senate).

1999

In 1999, more than 17,000 people were killed when a 7.4 earthquake struck the Kocaeli province of Turkey.