The first federal law prohibiting the importation of opium is enacted, aimed not particularly at the ravages the drug was having on American society (none: white people weren’t using opium), but at the hated Chinee.

Feb 9 1950

Senator Joseph McCarthy announces he has a list of 205 State Department employees who are Communist Party members. He did not mention that J. Edgar Hoover likes to wear garters and pumps.

Feb 9 1968

“Planet of the Apes” opens.

Feb 9 1979

Serial killer Ted Bundy abducts, rapes, and murders twelve year old Kimberly Leach of Lake City Floriday. He takes her from her junior high school, where she had been elected runner-up Valentine Queen the day before. Kimberly’s remains aren’t found for eight weeks. It is for this murder that Ted Bundy is sent to the Electric Chair ten years later.

Feb 9 1989

Officials for the World Wrestling Federation testify before the New Jersey Senate that their matches are actually rigged. Say it ain’t so!

Feb 9 1990

Singer Del Shannon commits suicide with a .22 rifle. He is most remembered for his 1961 hit, Runaway.