Today's Highlight in History:
On February fifth, 1937, President Roosevelt proposed increasing the number of Supreme¹ Court justices; critics charged Roosevelt was attempting to "pack" the court.
On this date:
In 1783, Sweden recognized the independence of the United States.

In 1881, Phoenix², Arizona, was incorporated.

In 1887, Verdi's opera "Otello" premiered at La Scala.

In 1917, Congress passed, over President Wilson's veto, an immigration act severely³ curtailing⁴ the influx⁵ of Asians.

In 1917, Mexico's constitution was adopted.

In 1940, Glenn Miller⁶ and his orchestra recorded "Tuxedo⁷ Junction⁸" for RCA Victor's "Bluebird" label.

In 1958, Gamel Abdel Nasser was formally nominated to become the first president of the new United Arab Republic.

In 1962, French President Charles De Gaulle called for Algeria's independence.

In 1988, the Arizona House impeached⁹ Governor Evan Mecham, setting the stage for his trial and conviction in the state Senate.

In 1994, white separatist Byron De La Beckwith was convicted in Jackson, Mississippi, of murdering civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963, and was immediately sentenced to life in prison.

Ten years ago: Soviet¹⁰ leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev told the Communist Party it had to give up its unchallenged right to rule in favor of earning that right, instead of taking it for granted.

Five years ago: The White House and congressional Republicans drew battle lines over President Clinton's $1.61 trillion budget, with Republicans accusing Clinton of "taking a walk" and the administration saying Clinton was cutting the deficit¹¹ more than any president in history.

One year ago: Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was sentenced in Maryland to a year in jail for assaulting two motorists following a traffic accident (he ended up serving three and a-half months).