Today's Puzzle
How do you fit an entire foot into an object only 9 inches long?
Holidays
Feast Day of St. Hilda of Whitby
Patron saint of business and professional women.
What Happened On
I Am Not a Crook
November 17, 1973
With the Watergate scandal looming, U.S. President Richard Nixon gives his famous speech in front of 400 Associated Press editors. "I welcome this kind of examination because people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got." His remarks were in response to being asked about his role in the Watergate burglary and attempts to cover up the fact that his re-election committee had funded the break-in.
Computer Mouse
November 17, 1970
Patent issued to Douglas Engelbart for the first computer mouse (patent #3541541).
Heidi Bowl
November 17, 1968
Fans on the East Coast missed the last-minute thrilling comeback by the Oakland Raiders when the final 1:01 of the game was cut off due to the start of the movie Heidi.
The New York Jets were leading the Oakland Raiders 32-29 when airing of the game was cutoff. During this time Oakland scored two touchdowns in nine seconds to come from behind and win 43-32.
This led to changes in how television handled preempting shows when games ran long.
Buck Rogers' XZ-31 Rocket Pistol
November 17, 1934
The toy version of Buck Rogers' XZ-31 rocket pistol goes on sale. Over 2,000 people lined up outside Macy's in New York City.
National Rifle Association Founded
November 17, 1871
The NRA is granted a charter by the state of New York. Dismayed by the lack of marksmanship shown by their troops, Union veterans Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate formed the National Rifle Association. Their goal was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis." Former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant served as president of the NRA (1883-84).
First Ship to officially pass through the Suez Canal
First Ship to officially pass through the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
November 17, 1869
The Suez Canal, a North-South waterway connecting the Mediterranean and the Red seas, opens. It cut the trip from London to Bombay almost in half.
Clinton-Lewinsky Affair
November 17, 1995
U.S. President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky have their second sexual encounter, during which he spoke to Rep. Sonny Callahan (R-Ala.) on the phone.
NBC Fake News
November 17, 1992
NBC's Dateline airs a segment showing a GM truck exploding during a car crash test, not disclosing that they had used an explosive device to ensure the explosion.
First U.S. Nationally-Televised Condom Ad
November 17, 1991
An ad for Trojan brand condoms becomes the first condom ad broadcast on U.S. network television. It was aired during an episode of Herman's Head. Fox Broadcasting had agreed to allow condom ads that dealt with the control of sexually transmitted diseases, but not ones depicting their use for birth control.
California station KNTV aired the first local broadcast of a condom commercial in 1975.
First Inductees Into the Jockey Hall of Fame
November 17, 1955
Eddie Arcaro, Earle Sande and George Woolf.
Washington, D.C.
November 17, 1800
First meeting of the U.S. Congress in the newly formed Capital city.
Birthdays
Danny DeVito
Born November 17, 1944
American Emmy-winning actor. Film: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Romancing the Stone (1984), Ruthless People (1986), Throw Momma From the Train (1987), Batman Returns (1992, The Penguin), and Mars Attacks! (1996). TV: Taxi (1978-83, Louie) and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2006-, Frank Reynolds).
Toto with Judy Garland
Toto (Terry)
Born November 17, 1933 d. 1945
American female Cairn Terrier, actor. Toto of The Wizard of Oz (1939). Known for doing her own stunts, she broke a foot when she was accidentally stepped on by a Winkie guard during the filming of The Wizard of Oz. She appeared in 16 films, including as Rags in the Shirley Temple movie Bright Eyes (1934). Originally named Terry, she changed her name to Toto after the filming of The Wizard of Oz.
Rock Hudson (Roy Scherer, Jr.)
Born November 17, 1925 d. 1985
American actor. Film: Giant (1956) and Pillow Talk (1959). TV: McMillan and Wife (1971-77, McMillan). He was one of the first major public figures to announce they had AIDS and was the first major celebrity to die of the disease.
Rock Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., but in 1932, his mother married Wallace Fitzgerald who adopted him and his name became Roy Fitzgerald.
The Colosseum
The Colosseum
Vespasian
Born November 17, A.D. 9 d. A.D. 79
Roman Emperor (69-79 AD). He was responsible for the building of the Roman Colosseum (aka Flavian Amphitheatre).
Gene Clark
Born November 17, 1944 d. 1991
American singer, with The Byrds. Music: Mr. Tambourine Man (1965, #1).
Lauren Hutton
Born November 17, 1943
American model, Playboy bunny, actress. Film: American Gigolo (1979).
Martin Scorsese
Born November 17, 1942
American director. Film: Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), and The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).
Photo Credit: Arnielee
Photo Credit: Arnielee
Gordon Lightfoot
Born November 17, 1938 d. 2023
Canadian singer, songwriter. Music: If You Could Read My Mind (1970), Sundown (1974, #1), and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (1976).
His song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was based on a true event.
His song Sundown was about his then mistress Cathy Smith, who in 1982 injected the fatal overdose that killed John Belushi.
Peter Cook
Born November 17, 1937 d. 1995
English actor, comedian. He is often credited with founding contemporary British satire.
Soichiro Honda
Born November 17, 1906 d. 1991
Japanese motorcycle and automobile maker.
Lee Strasberg
Born November 17, 1901 d. 1982
acting teacher, the father of method acting in America. His disciples include Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino.
Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier)
Born November 17, 1755 d. 1824
King of France (1814-24).
The Father of Canning
Nicolas Appert
Born November 17, 1749 d. 1841
French scientist and chef. The Father of Canning. He was the first person to preserve food in jars (1804), opened the first canning factory, and invented the bouillon cube.
Deaths
Auguste Rodin
Died November 17, 1917 b. 1840
French sculptor, noted for his famous statue The Thinker (1888). When motion photography proved that horses didn't gallop in the manner often depicted by artists, he responded, "It is the artist who is truthful and it is photography which lies, for in reality time does not stop."
Ruth Brown
Died November 17, 2006 b. 1928
American Rock & Roll Hall of Fame jazz singer, Tony-winning actress, Queen of R&B. She was Atlantic Records' best-selling artist for the 1950s. Atlantic Records was sometimes referred to as: "The house the Ruth built." Music: 
Teardrops From My Eyes (1950, #1) and (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean (1953, #1).
Esther Rolle
Died November 17, 1998 b. 1920
American Emmy-winning actress. TV: Maude (1972-74, Florida Evans) and Good Times (1974-77, 1978-79, Florida Evans).
Detlev Wulf Bronk
Died November 17, 1975 b. 1897
American scientist, educator, "Father of Biophysics." He served as president of Johns Hopkins University (1949-53).
Mary Tudor
Died November 17, 1558 b. 1516
Queen of England and Ireland (1553-58). Her persecution of Protestants for heresy to the Roman Catholic Church earned her the name "Bloody Mary."