1931

Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure that made the state the first to legalize gambling.

1945

During World War II, more than 800 service members were killed when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier USS Franklin near Japan.

1953

The 25th Academy Awards ceremony was the first to be televised; “The Greatest Show on Earth” won the Oscar for Best Picture.

1965

Archeologist E. Lee Spence discovered the wreckage of the SS Georgiana, a Confederate ship that had sunk near Charleston, South Carolina, exactly 102 years earlier.

1987

Televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as chairman of his PTL ministry organization amid a sex and money scandal involving Jessica Hahn, a former church secretary.

2003

In a televised address, President George W. Bush announced that coalition forces had begun an invasion of Iraq.

Birthdays

Actor Ursula Andress is 89. Singer Ruth Pointer is 79. Actor Glenn Close is 78. Actor Bruce Willis is 70. NFL coach Andy Reid is 67. Actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach is 48. Comedian-podcaster Theo Von is 45. Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin is 43. MLB pitcher Clayton Kershaw is 37.