On Feb. 11, 1812, Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a re-districting law favoring his Democratic-Republican Party — giving rise to the term "gerrymandering."
In 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln bade farewell to his adopted hometown of Springfield, Ill., as he headed to Washington for his inauguration.
In 1960, "Tonight Show" host Jack Paar stunned his audience by walking off the program in a censorship dispute with NBC. (Paar returned to the show less than a month later.)
In 1975, Margaret Thatcher was elected leader of Britain's opposition Conservative Party.
In 1990, South African activist Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in captivity.
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