Today In History

In 1836: Texas declared its independence from Mexico.

In 1877: Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the 1876 presidential election over Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, even though Tilden had won the popular vote.

In 1899: Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state was established.

In 1939: Roman Catholic Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was elected Pope; he took the name Pius XII.

IN 1995: The Senate rejected the balanced-budget amendment; the vote, 65-35, was two votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed for passage.