November 7th

The U.S. went to the polls to choose between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The outcome wouldn't be known for more than a month because of disputed votes in Florida.

L. Douglas Wilder was elected governor of Virginia. He became the nation's first elected black governor.

Coup in Tunisia. In a bloodless coup in Tunisia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali took over the Presidentship of Tunisia from President Habib Bourguiba.

Carl Stokes of Cleveland became the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city.

Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt died in New York City at age 78.

Coup in Thailand. The military staged a coup against Thawan Thamrong Nawasawat and installed Khuang Aphaiwong as Prime Minister.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt won a fourth term in office, defeating Thomas E. Dewey.

Chinese People's Republic proclaimed by Mao Zedong.

[OS Oct 25] October Revolution in Russia; Lenin and the Bolsheviks seize power, capture the Winter Palace and overthrow the Provisional Government.

Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to Congress.

The Republican Party was first symbolized as an elephant in a cartoon drawn by Thomas Nast in Harper's Weekly magazine.

Cargo ship Mary Celeste sails from Staten Island for Genoa; mysteriously found abandoned 4 weeks later.

First inter-city cycle race. The first city to city cycle race was held between Paris and Rouen. James Moore, an Englishman living in Paris at that time won the race.

Ensisheim Meteorite strikes earth in a wheat field near village of Ensisheim in Alsace, France. Oldest meteorite with a known date of impact.