**Today in History: October 16**
Today is Thursday, October 16, 2025, the 289th day of the year. There are 76 days left in the year.
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### Historical Events on October 16
– **1962:** The Cuban Missile Crisis began when President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba, marking a pivotal moment in Cold War history.
– **1758:** American lexicographer Noah Webster, best known for compiling the first American dictionary, was born in Hartford, Connecticut.
– **1793:** Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, was beheaded during the French Revolution.
– **1859:** Radical abolitionist John Brown led an unsuccessful raid on the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, then in western Virginia. Although the raid failed to incite the intended slave rebellion, it heightened North-South tensions leading up to the Civil War. Ten of Brown’s men were killed, others escaped, and Brown along with six followers were captured and executed.
– **1934:** Under siege by Nationalist forces, Chinese communists began their infamous “Long March”—a year-long trek from southeastern to northwestern China.
– **1964:** China detonated its first atomic bomb, codenamed “596,” at the Lop Nur Test Ground.
– **1968:** American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos sparked controversy at the Mexico City Olympics by giving “Black Power” salutes during the victory ceremony after winning gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter race.
– **1978:** The College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Karol Wojtyla as pope. He took the name John Paul II.
– **1984:** Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of peaceful activism against apartheid and racial inequality in South Africa.
– **1987:** Eighteen-month-old Jessica McClure was rescued after being trapped for more than two days in an abandoned well in Midland, Texas. The dramatic rescue efforts captured nationwide attention.
– **1991:** A gunman opened fire at a Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, killing 23 people before taking his own life.
– **1995:** The Million Man March took place in Washington, D.C., bringing together Black men to promote unity in facing economic and social challenges affecting African Americans.
– **2017:** Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held captive by the Taliban for five years after walking away from his post in Afghanistan in 2009, pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. He received no prison time after submitting evidence of torture by the Taliban. His military conviction was vacated by a federal judge in 2023.
– **2024:** In Jigawa State, Nigeria, more than 140 people, including children, were killed when an overturned gasoline tanker exploded while people were collecting spilled fuel. Dozens more sustained injuries in the massive fire.
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### Today’s Birthdays
– Fernanda Montenegro, Actor — 96
– Barry Corbin, Actor — 85
– Bob Weir, Musician — 78
– Tim Robbins, Actor-Director — 67
– Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Rock Musician — 63
– Kenneth Lonergan, Filmmaker — 63
– Terri J. Vaughn, Actor — 56
– John Mayer, Singer — 48
– Sue Bird, Former WNBA Point Guard — 45
– Caterina Scorsone, Actor — 44
– Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies Outfielder — 33
– Naomi Osaka, Tennis Player — 28
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Stay tuned for more historical milestones and notable birthdays on this day!
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/16/today-in-history-cuban-missile-crisis-begins/
