Today in history: Sept. 19
In 1985, the Mexico City area was struck by a devastating earthquake that killed at least 9,500 people, and more events that happened on this day in history.
Video
1984: Hong Kong
In 1984, Britain and China completed a draft agreement on transferring Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule by 1997.
1985: Mexico City
In 1985, the Mexico City area was struck by a devastating earthquake that killed at least 9,500 people.
1995: The Unabomber
In 1995, The New York Times and The Washington Post published the manifesto of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, which proved instrumental in identifying and capturing him.
2004: Hu Kintao
In 2004, Hu Jintao, right, became the undisputed leader of China with the departure of former President Jiang Zemin from his top military post.
2008: George W. Bush
In 2008, struggling to stave off financial catastrophe, the Bush administration laid out a radical bailout plan calling for a takeover of a half-trillion dollars or more in worthless mortgages and other bad debt held by tottering institutions. Relieved investors sent stocks soaring on Wall Street and around the globe.
2011: Barack Obama
In 2011, in a White House address, a combative President Barack Obama demanded that the richest Americans pay higher taxes to help cut soaring U.S. deficits by more than $3 trillion.
2011: Dolores Hope
In 2011, Dolores Hope, who was married to Bob Hope for 69 years and sometimes sang on his shows for U.S. troops and on his television specials, died in Los Angeles at age 102.
2011: Mariano Rivera
In 2011, Mariano Rivera set a major league record with his 602nd save, closing out the New York Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins.
2016: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
In 2016, Angelina Jolie Pitt filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, citing irreconcilable differences.
2016: Barack Obama and Haider al-Abadi
In 2016, President Barack Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (HY’-dahr ahl ah-BAH’-dee), meeting on the sidelines of a United Nations summit, put the Islamic State group on notice that they planned to recapture the city of Mosul within months.
2016: The United Nations
In 2016, world leaders meeting at the United Nations approved a declaration aimed at providing a more coordinated and humane response to the refugee crisis that was straining resources and stoking divisions around the world.
2020: Donald Trump
In 2020, President Donald Trump urged the Republican-run Senate to consider “without delay” his upcoming nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just six weeks before the election.
2020: Protests
In 2020, demonstrators took the streets of London, Tel Aviv and other cities to protest coronavirus restrictions, even with infection rates rising in many places and the global death toll approaching 1 million.