Historical Events on November 16th
Today is Sunday, Nov. 16, the 320th day of 2025. There are 45 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On Nov. 16, 1988, Benazir Bhutto made history by becoming the first woman to be elected as the prime minister of Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country.
Other significant events on this date:
– In 1907, Oklahoma officially joined the United States as the 46th state.
– In 1914, the Federal Reserve Banks were established in 12 cities across the country.
– In 1973, President Richard Nixon signed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, paving the way for the construction of an oil pipeline stretching 800 miles from the Alaska North Slope to Valdez.
– In 1982, an agreement was reached to end a 57-day strike by National Football League players.
– In 1989, tragedy struck as six Jesuit priests, a housekeeper, and her daughter were killed by Salvadoran army troops at a university in San Salvador.
– In 2001, the first Harry Potter film, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” premiered in theaters worldwide.
– In 2006, Rep. Nancy Pelosi was nominated to become the first female House speaker after Democrats gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the midterm elections.
– In 2018, it was revealed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
– In 2022, NASA marked a significant milestone by resuming lunar exploration with an uncrewed Orion space capsule mission to orbit the moon.
Notable Birthdays on November 16th:
- Actor Miguel Sandoval turns 74 today.
- Renowned video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto celebrates his 73rd birthday.
- NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte is 69 years old.
- Actor Marg Helgenberger turns 67 today.
- Former MLB All-Star pitcher Dwight Gooden is 61 years old.
- Jazz singer Diana Krall celebrates her 61st birthday.
- Actor Lisa Bonet turns 58 today.
- Actor Martha Plimpton is 55 years old.
- Olympic figure skating gold medalist Oksana Baiul is 48 years old.
- Actor Maggie Gyllenhaal celebrates her 48th birthday.
- Actor-comedian Pete Davidson turns 32 today.
