Today in History - History - February 22nd

1942World War II: President Franklin Roosevelt orders General Douglas MacArthur out of the Philippines as American defenses collapse

2009Heath Ledger, posthumously, wins the Academy Award for Best Supporting Act for his performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight"

1962Wilt Chamberlain sets NBA record with 34 free throw attempts

1980USA beats USSR in Olympic hockey 4-3, referred to as "Miracle on Ice". USA captain Mike Eruzione scores winning goal in 3rd period

1976Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Bent Tree Golf Classic

200981st Academy Awards - "Slumdog Millionare," Sean Penn & Kate Winslet win

1632Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems is published.

1892"Lady Windermere's Fan" by Oscar Wilde premieres at St James (London)

1989UK physicist Stephen Hawking calls Star Wars a "deliberate fraud"

1939Netherlands recognizes Franco regime in Spain

1965Pat LaFontaine, St Louis Missouri, NHL center (NY Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, NY Rangers)

1962Steve Irwin, Melbourne Victoria, Australian naturalist and TV personality (The Crocodile Hunter)

1950Julius Erving, Nassau County New York, ABA/NBA forward (Virg Squirers, NY Nets, Phila 76ers)

1975Drew Barrymore, Los Angeles California, actress (ET, Firestarter, Poison Ivy)

1732George Washington, Westmoreland, Virginia, 1st American president (1789-97)

1934Sparky Anderson [George Lee Anderson], Bridgewater South Dakota, American MLB manager (Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers)

1991Actor Bill Bixby (57) weds Laura Michael (32)

1997Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez (27) weds Ojani Noa on the grounds of a friend's Miami home

1941CIA Director William Casey (27) weds Sophia Kurz

1767US Defector General Benedict Arnold (26) weds the daughter of the sheriff of New Haven Margaret Mansfield

1875Charles Lyell, British geologist (Elements of Geology), dies at 77

1987Andy Warhol, pop artist, dies of a heart attack at 58