**On This Day in History – November 2**
**1889**
North and South Dakota became the 39th and 40th states of the Union.
**1920**
In the first significant news broadcast, KDKA in Pittsburgh reported the U.S. presidential election results, announcing Warren G. Harding’s win over James Cox.
**1947**
Howard Hughes built and piloted the world’s largest airplane, the 200-ton flying boat known as the Spruce Goose, on its only flight at Long Beach, California. The aircraft remained airborne for just under one mile.
**1959**
Charles Van Doren testified before a U.S. congressional investigation that he had been given questions and answers in advance for appearances on a television game show.
**1962**
U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced that Soviet missile bases in Cuba were being dismantled.
**1976**
Democrat Jimmy Carter, former governor of Georgia, was elected the 39th president of the United States, defeating incumbent Republican Gerald Ford.
**1983**
President Ronald Reagan signed a bill establishing a national holiday to mark the birthday anniversary of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
**1992**
Legendary filmmaker Hal Roach died at age 100. He was credited with discovering the comedy team Laurel and Hardy and producing the “Our Gang” comedies.
**2004**
President George W. Bush was re-elected in a race against Democrat John Kerry.
**2013**
Two French journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, were kidnapped and killed after interviewing a rebel leader in northern Mali. President François Hollande expressed “indignation at this odious act.”
**2016**
The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the World Series, winning the team’s first championship in 108 years. Although the game began on November 2, a rain delay pushed the final half-hour into early November 3.
**2023**
The Beatles released their last new song, “Now and Then.” The track was created using new technology to piece together vocals, guitar, and piano recorded by the late John Lennon and George Harrison in the late 1970s, complemented by new contributions from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2025/11/02/On-This-Day-Spruce-Goose-makes-lone-flight/7851762053339/