Today's Highlight in History:
On November fourth, 1979, the Iranian hostage crisis（人质危机） began as militants¹ stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran. For some of the hostages, it was the start of 444 days of captivity（囚禁，被关）.

On this date:
In 1842, Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd in Springfield, Illinois.

In 1880, the first cash register（出纳机） was patented by James and John Ritty of Dayton, Ohio.

In 1884, Democrat² Grover Cleveland was elected to his first term as president, defeating Republican James G. Blaine.

In 1922, the entrance to King Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in Egypt.

In 1939, the United States modified its neutrality（中立） stance in World War Two, allowing "cash and carry" purchases of arms by belligerents³（交战国）, a policy favoring Britain and France.

In 1942, during World War Two, Axis⁴ forces retreated from El Alamein in North Africa in a major victory for British forces commanded by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

In 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson.

In 1956, Soviet⁵ troops moved in to crush the Hungarian Revolution.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan won the White House as he defeated President Carter by a strong margin（利润，边缘）.

In 1991, former President Reagan opened his library in Simi Valley, California.

Ten years ago: Iraq issued a new broadside, saying it was prepared to fight a "dangerous war" rather than give up Kuwait. Secretary of State James Baker⁶ visited US troops in the Saudi Arabian desert. Douglas Wakiihuri of Kenya and Wanda Panfil of Poland won the New York City Marathon.

Five years ago: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated⁷ by a right-wing Israeli minutes after attending a festive⁸ peace rally（集会）.

One year ago: Aaron McKinney, who beat gay college student Matthew Shepard and left him to die on the Wyoming prairie（大草原）, avoided the death penalty by agreeing to serve life in prison without parole（释放宣言） and promising⁹ never to appeal his conviction. Some ten-thousand Iranian students rallied outside the former US Embassy in Tehran to mark the 20th anniversary of its seizure¹⁰ by Islamic militants.