Years Ago

Today is Friday, Nov. 4, the 308th day of 2011. There are 57 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1884: Democrat Grover Cleveland is elected to his first term as president, defeating Republican James G. Blaine.

1922: The entrance to King Tutankhamen’s tomb is discovered in Egypt.

1939: The United States modifies its neutrality stance in World War II, allowing “cash and carry” purchases of arms by belligerents, a policy favoring Britain and France.

1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower is elected president, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson.

1979: The Iran hostage crisis begins as militants storm the United States Embassy in Tehran, seizing its occupants; for some, it is the start of 444 days of captivity.

1980: Ronald Reagan wins the White House, defeating President Jimmy Carter by a strong margin.

2008: Democrat Barack Obama is elected the first black president of the United States, defeating Republican John McCain.

VINDICATOR FILES

1986: Cortland city officials are moving ahead with plans to tear down the century-old town hall, which will be replaced by a new building at 400 High St.

A Youngstown police officer wounds a 19-year-old Youngstown man while investigating a burglar at a Cohasset Drive home.

1971: The four major U.S. automakers sell 933,713 cars in October, breaking the old record for a month’s sales by more than 48,000.

A 17-year-old Wirt Street youth is permanently committed to the Ohio Youth Commission in Columbus by Juvenile Judge Martin P. Joyce, who found him delinquent for assault of a police officer and inciting a riot at the Rayen-Mooney football game Sept. 18.

1961: Tony Lucci, dean of the Central Square gamblers in Youngstown, is arraigned in federal court on charges of accepting wagers without holding a federal tax stamp.

Temperatures reach a high of 80 at the Youngstown Municipal Airport, breaking the old record for the date by six degrees.

1936: Youngstown Republican U.S. Rep. John G. Cooper issues a statement following his defeat by Democrat Michael J. Kirwan: “I fully realize my defeat was not personal. It was, however, an indication of the tremendous swing and support of the voters to the policies of President Roosevelt.”

The new J.C. Penney department store is preparing to open its doors at 238 W. Federal Street. About 250 employees have been hired for the store.