Today in history: March 9
In 1997, gangsta rapper The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) was killed in a still-unsolved drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; he was 24.
1862: USS Monitor
In 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Virginia.
1916: Pancho Villa
In 1916, more than 400 Mexican raiders led by Pancho Villa (VEE’-uh) attacked Columbus, New Mexico, killing 18 Americans. During the First World War, Germany declared war on Portugal.
1987: Chrysler Corp
In 1987, Chrysler Corp. announced it had agreed to buy the financially ailing American Motors Corp.
1989: John Tower
In 1989, the Senate rejected President George H.W. Bush’s nomination of John Tower to be defense secretary by a vote of 53-47. (The next day, Bush tapped Wyoming Rep. Dick Cheney, who went on to win unanimous Senate approval.)
1997: The Notorious B.I.G.
In 1997, gangsta rapper The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) was killed in a still-unsolved drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; he was 24.
2000: John McCain
In 2000, John McCain suspended his presidential campaign, conceding the Republican nomination to George W. Bush. Bill Bradley ended his presidential bid, conceding the Democratic nomination to Vice President Al Gore.
2012: Kofi Annan
A high-profile international mission to end the Syrian crisis stumbled before it began as the opposition rejected calls by U.N. envoy Kofi Annan for dialogue with President Bashar Assad as pointless and out of touch after a year of violence.
2012: Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn of the United States won the World Cup giant slalom race in Are, Sweden to clinch her fourth overall title.
2017: Amal Clooney
Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney urged Iraq and the world’s nations not to let the Islamic State extremist group “get away with genocide,” telling a U.N. meeting that what was “shocking” was not just the group’s brutality but the “passive” response by the world’s nations.
2021: Prince Harry and Meghan
Buckingham Palace said allegations of racism made earlier in the week by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, were “concerning” and would be addressed privately by the royal family.