1915 -- William Jennings Bryan, U.S. secretary of state, resigned in disagreement over policy following the German sinking of the Lusitania.

1928 -- In China, Chiang Kai-Shek's Nationalist army secured the surrender of Peking (Beijing) after two days.

1947 -- Eva Peron, wife of Argentine president Juan Peron, was given a tumultuous reception in Madrid by General Franco, a rare greeting by the Spanish dictator for a foreign dignatory.

1953 -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that restaurants in the district of Colombia could not refuse to serve Blacks.

1968 -- James Earl Ray, wanted for the assassination of Martin Luther King, was arrested in London.

1969 -- U.S. president Nixon met South Vietnam's leader on Midway Island and announced the withdrawal of 25,000 troops.

1973 -- General Franco handed over Spain's premiership to Luis Carrero Blanco after ruling alone for 34 years. He remained as head of state.

1986 -- Kurt Waldheim was elected president of Austria despite allegations he had been involved in Nazi atrocities.

1990 -- The Russian Federation, the largest Soviet republic, declared that its Constitution now took precedence over Soviet laws.

1995 -- Lee Teng Hui became the first Taiwan president to visit the United States, angering Beijing.

1998 -- Nigeria's military ruler General Sani Abacha died suddenly after more than four years in power; General Abdulsalam Abubakar was sworn in as Nigeria's ninth military ruler. 2000 -- The British military attache in Athens, Brigadier Stephen Saunders, was shot and killed. The November 17 urban guerrilla group claim responsibility the next day.