1860

Former U.S. Rep. Abraham Lincoln, a member of the Republican Party, was elected president.

1861

James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada.

1947

“Meet the Press,” the longest-running television show in America, made its debut on NBC; the host was the show’s co-creator, Martha Rountree.

1984

President Ronald Reagan easily won reelection.