2015 Event Juan Felipe Herrera, age 66, has been named by U.S. Congress as this year's national poet laureate; Herrera, who is the first Latino to be given the title, has served for the past three years as California poet laureate 2015 Event Mohamed Morsi, the former Egyptian president who was the first to be democratically elected, has been given a death sentence for his role in a prison outbreak during the revolution of 2011 2015 Event The U.S. Internal Revenue Service warns of an increase in taxpayer phone scams threatening victims unless they pay a given amount with a debit or prepaid credit card; over 366,000 people have been swindled of over $15 million since 2013 2015 Event Over 6 million people attend a Mass in Manila, Philippines given by Pope Francis, who encouraged followers to protect the young and promote peace 2015 Event New U.S. rules loosening trade restrictions with Cuba go into effect today, including permission to sell instruments, tools, equipment and supplies to private businesses; U.S. banks will also be given greater freedom to transact with Cuban banks 2014 Event Studies on advice given by talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz show that only about 46 percent of his suggestions are supported by medical evidence; critics accuse him of giving vague or inaccurate advice in order to provide entertainment value 2014 Event An independence referendum for the Spanish region of Catalonia has been cancelled after the nation's constitutional court accepted the case for legal decision, effectively suspending the move until a ruling is given 2013 Event At The Tony Awards, held in New York City, Best Musical and other awards are given to the musical 'Kinky Boots', which has lyrics by Cyndi Lauper and is based on a book by Harvey Fierstein 2013 Event Former U.S. President Bill Clinton earns $500,000 for a speech given to honor Israel's President Shimon Peres 2012 Event The 2012 'World Soccer' Player of the Year award is given to Lionel Messi 2012 Event 2011 Tucson shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, is given 7 consecutive life sentences 2011 Event In North Korea, Kim Jong-un is given the tile of Supreme Commander of North Korea's armed forces 1993 Event "Any Given Day" closes at Longacre Theater New York City after 32 performances 1993 Event "Any Given Day" opens at Longacre Theater New York City for 32 performances 1992 Event Lennox Lewis given WBC title, when Riddick Bowe refused to fight him 1992 Event Nobel Prize for literature is given to West Indies poet Derek Walcott 1991 Event Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins given final approval by owners 1991 Event Manuel Noriega is given access to assets frozen by U.S. government 1989 Event Billy Graham is given 1,900th star on Hollywood Blvd 1981 Event New York Mayor Ed Koch is given Heimlich maneuver in a Chinese restaurant 1979 Event Andrew Hilditch given out handled the ball vs. Pakistan at WACA 1975 Event Elton John given a star in Hollywood 1972 Event Courts awarded Kentucky Derby prize money to 2nd place winner because winner was given drugs before race 1971 Birthday Erykah Badu, born in Dallas, Texas, singer, songwriter, Grammy-winner, R&B, hip hop, jazz, given name Erica Abi Wright 1970 Event Bob Dylan given honorary Doctorate of Music at Princeton 1970 Event Holy Eucharist given by women for 1st time in Roman Catholic service 1968 Event Beatles' Apple Boutique closes, entire inventory is given away 1968 Event National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (Kerner Comm) reports against racism and demands aid given to blacks 1967 Event White Sox given permission to use semi-DH in training camp with home club permission (use of pinch hitter twice in same game) 1966 Death Tortoise, reportedly given to Tonga's King by Captain Cook (1773), dies 1964 Event Commissioner's office given full powers in baseball disputes 1961 Event 1st on-the-road Spacemobile lecture given. 1957 Event Elvis Presley given draft notice to join U.S. Army for National Service 1955 Event After playing 274 straight games at 2nd base, Nellie Fox is given a day off he comes back next 798 consecutive games 1950 Event Dutch Air Force base Tjililitan given to Indonesia 1950 Birthday Lou Gramm, born in Rochester, New York, given name Loyis Grammatico, rocker, singer, songrwriter, drummer, lead vocalist for Foreigner 1946 Event NFL champs Cleveland Rams given permission to move to LA 1944 Birthday Marcie Blane, born in Brooklyn, New York, given name, Marcia Blank, singer, pop music, known for hit song 'Bobby's Girl' 1941 Event American Flag House (Betsy Ross' Home) given to city of Philadelphia 1935 Event Frank Boucher is given NHL's Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship permanently for winning it 7 of 11 years 1935 Event KSO-AM in Des Moines Iowa call sign is given to KWCR 1932 Birthday Bronislaw Geremek, born in Warsaw, given name Benjamin Lewertow, social historian, politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs 1927 Event Italy and U.S. anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti given death sentences 1925 Birthday Doc Pomus, born in Brooklyn, New York, given name Jerome Solon Felder, blues singer, songwriter, inducted in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame 1924 Event Memel territories given to Lithuania 1920 Birthday David Wright, born in Johannesburg, South Africa, given name David John Murray Wright, editor of 'X', autobiography 'Deafness. A Personal Account' gives insight into deafness 1920 Birthday Del Wood, born in Nashville, Tennessee, given name Polly Adelaide Hendricks Hazelwood, singer, pianist, recorded for Tennessee Records label, performed on the Grand Ole Opry 1919 Event Assent is given to an Act to amend the Canadian Currency Act, 1910 1918 Event 7 U.S. soldiers are surrounded by Germans in France, Alvin York is given command and shoots 20 Germans and captures 132 more 1916 Event Dodger manager Wilbert Robinson given $5,000 bonus 1911 Event Tobias Asser given Nobel prize for peace 1909 Birthday Bruce Bennett, born in California, Olympic shot-put silver medalist, actor, played 'Tarzan', given name, Herman Brix 1904 Event 1st athletic letters given (University of Chicago football team) 1904 Event 1st college sports letters given to Seniors who played on University of Chicago's football team are awarded blankets with letter "C" on them 1878 Event DC is given a new government by Congress, 3 commissioners appointed by president (change in 1974) 1864 Event Black Soldiers given Medal of Honor 1864 Event Battle of Mobile Bay Al-Farragut is given rank of Vice-Admiral 1863 Event Grant is given command of Union forces in West 1861 Event CS General Sibley is given command of rebel troops in New Mexico territory 1861 Event U.S. Sanitary Commission is given executive approval 1861 Event General Beauregard is given command of Confederate Alexandria Line 1633 Event Charter for Maryland is given to Lord Cecil Baltimore 1576 Event Tycho Brahe given Hveen Island to build Uraniborg Observatory 1492 Event Columbus is given royal commission to equip his fleet
