MORE EVENTS ON THIS DAY

2015: American actor Leonard Nimoy —who was best known for his portrayal of the stoic, cerebral Mr. Spock in the sci-fi TV and film franchise Star Trek—died at age 83. [Take our quiz about movie stars.]

2008: American editor and author William F. Buckley, Jr. —who became an important intellectual influence in politics as the founder (1955) and editor in chief of the journal National Review, which he used as a forum for conservative views and ideas—died at age 82. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about magazines.]

1991: U.S. President George H.W. Bush ordered a cease-fire effective at midnight and declared victory in the Persian Gulf War, a conflict triggered by Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait in August 1990. [ Watch President Bush's speech about the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.]

1968: During a news broadcast, American journalist Walter Cronkite, who was considered “the most trusted man in America,” broke from his usual objectivity to predict that the Vietnam War could end only in a protracted stalemate; his commentary was credited with changing the U.S. public's opinion of the conflict. [ How much do you know about the Vietnam War?]

1951: The Twenty-second Amendment, which effectively limited to two the number of terms a U.S. president may serve, was ratified. [Test your knowledge of amendments.]

1932: American actress Elizabeth Taylor—whose career, highlighted by award-winning portrayals of emotionally volatile characters, was often overshadowed by her highly publicized personal life—was born in London. [ Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about A-list actors.]