Today’s highlights

On Nov. 8, 2000, a statewide recount began in Florida, which emerged as critical in deciding the winner of the 2000 presidential election. The recount would officially end on Dec. 12 upon orders from the U.S. Supreme Court, delivering Florida’s electoral votes and the presidency to George W. Bush.

On this date

1864: President Abraham Lincoln won reelection as he defeated Democratic challenger George B. McClellan.

1889: Montana was admitted to the Union as the 41st state.

1923: Adolf Hitler launched his first attempt at seizing power in Germany with a failed coup in Munich that came to be known as the “Beer-Hall Putsch.”

1942: The Allies launched Operation Torch in World War II as U.S. and British forces landed in French North Africa.

1950: During the Korean War, the first jet-plane battle took place as U.S. Air Force Lt. Russell J. Brown shot down a North Korean MiG-15.

1960: John F. Kennedy won the U.S. presidential election over Vice President Richard M. Nixon.

1974: A federal judge in Cleveland dismissed charges against eight Ohio National Guardsmen accused of violating the civil rights of students who were killed or wounded in the 1970 Kent State shootings.

Today’s birthdays

Racing Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. is 82. Singer Bonnie Raitt is 75. TV personality Mary Hart is 74. Filmmaker Richard Curtis is 68. Chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay is 58. News anchor David Muir is 51. Actor Matthew Rhys is 50. Actor Tara Reid is 49. Baseball player Giancarlo Stanton is 35.