It was 20 years ago today

[Barad Simith]

I started thinking about Fitzmas again, and how if indictments are announced today, Fitzmas Day will be October 26, 2005.

That date sure seemed familiar, and then I remembered why: Marty McFly traveled back in time in Dr. Emmett Brown's DeLorean on October 26, 1985.

What else happened 20 years ago today?

As in Back To The Future, director Robert Zemeckis used the date again in Death Becomes Her (Helen drank the immortality potion on October 26, 1985).

In real life, on October 26, 1985 umpire Don Deckinger made a poor call in 6th game of the World Series, starting a string of events that cost the Cardinals the series.


As for other October 26 events from years ending in the number 5...


October 26, 1995: Mossad agents assassinated Islamic Jihad leader Fathi Shikaki in his hotel in Malta.

October 26, 1975: Anwar Sadat visited the United States, the first Egyptian president to do so in an official capacity.

October 26, 1965: 16-year-old Sylvia Likens died in Indiana after weeks of torture at the hands of over a dozen co-residents and neighbors ranging in age from 11 to 37.

October 26, 1955: The first edition of the "Village Voice" was published in New York City.

October 26, 1945: Nazi chemist Robert Ley committed suicide in the Nuremberg jail after being indicted on the following four counts:

1. Conspiracy to commit crimes against peace
2. Planning, initiating and waging wars of aggression
3. War crimes
4. Crimes against humanity

Ironic, that last one, isn't it?

By the way, can anyone name the famous Democrat who was born on October 26?