today in history

Feb. 4, 2022 Updated Tue., Feb. 8, 2022 at 10:02 a.m.

ORG XMIT: OHMR103 A helicopter flies over fishermen stranded on a slab of ice about 8 miles wide that broke free and floated away from the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie, at Oak Harbor, Ohio, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. The Coast Guard said about 150 people had been trapped on the ice and rescue operations were underway about 1,000 yards off shore. (AP Photo/Madalyn Ruggiero) (MADALYN RUGGIERO)

Wartime rationing of shoe leather

In 1943, the government abruptly announced that wartime rationing of shoes made of leather would go into effect in two days, limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person per year. (Rationing was lifted in October 1945.)

Swiss women win right to vote

In 1971, women in Switzerland gained the right to vote through a national referendum, 12 years after a previous attempt failed.

Disaster on ice

In 2009, a miles-wide section of ice in Lake Erie broke away from the Ohio shoreline, trapping about 135 fishermen, some for as long as four hours before they could be rescued (one man fell into the water and later died of an apparent heart attack).

Beatles start American tour

In 1964, the Beatles arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to begin their first American tour.

Betsy DeVos confirmed

In 2017, charter school advocate Betsy DeVos won confirmation as education secretary by the slimmest of margins, pushed to approval only by the historic tie-breaking vote of Vice President Mike Pence.

First untethered spacewalk

In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart went on the first untethered spacewalk, which lasted nearly six hours.