October 17

1777

Oct 17, 1777

British general John Burgoyne surrendered 5,000 British and Hessian troops to the American general Horatio Gates at Saratoga, New York

1835

Oct 17, 1835

Texans approve a resolution to create the Texas Rangers

1903

Oct 17, 1903

Novelist Nathanael West, was born on October 17, 1903 in New York to a family of Jewish immigrants.

1906

Oct 17, 1906

Wilhelm Voigt impersonated an army officer and lead a squad of soldiers to help him steal 4,000 marks

1912

Oct 17, 1912

Serbia and Greece declare war on the Ottoman Empire

1941

Oct 17, 1949

the government of Japan under the prime minister,Prince Fumimaro Konoye, collapses and leaves little hope for peace in the Pacific

1968

Oct 17, 1968

Olympic medalists Tommie Smith (gold) and John Carlos (bronze) were forced to return their medals because they had raised their fists in a black power salute during the medal ceremony

1974

Oct 17, 1974

President Gerald Ford explained to Congress why he chose to pardon former President Richard Nixon instead of letting Congress pursue legal action against Nixon.

1986

Oct 17, 1986

President Reagan signs into law an act of Congress that approved $100 million of humanitarian and military aid for the Contras

1989

Oct 17, 1989

earthquake hits the San Francisco Bay area