On This Day, Feb. 7: Senate establishes committee to probe Watergate

UPI Staff
·3 min read
On February 7, 1973, the U.S. Senate voted to set up a committee to investigate a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington's Watergate complex. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI
On February 7, 1973, the U.S. Senate voted to set up a committee to investigate a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington's Watergate complex. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI
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Feb. 7 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1497, the Bonfire of the Vanities in Florence, Italy, took place when followers of Girolamo Savonarola burned thousands of books, art and cosmetics.

In 1940, British railroads were nationalized.

In 1964, the Beatles arrived in the United States for the first time and immediately set off a frantic wave of "Beatlemania."

In 1973, the U.S. Senate voted to set up a committee to investigate a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington's Watergate complex.

On February 7, 1992, the European Union was created when the Maastricht Treaty was signed. The treaty officially went into force Nov. 1, 1993. File Photo by Eco Clement/UPI
On February 7, 1992, the European Union was created when the Maastricht Treaty was signed. The treaty officially went into force Nov. 1, 1993. File Photo by Eco Clement/UPI

In 1979, Josef Mengele, the so-called Nazi "Angel of Death" who conducted medical experiments on victims of the Holocaust, died. His death -- caused by a stroke while swimming in Brazil -- wasn't revealed until 1985.

In 1984, U.S. astronauts Bruce McCandless and Robert Stewart made the first untethered spacewalks. McCandless was the first to float freely in space, propelled by a nitrogen-powered "jetpack" after leaving the shuttle Challenger.

Sisters Lia Huber (L), and Yehudith Barnea (R) 80, surviving "Mengele Twins" of the Holocaust, look at photographs at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem on January 24. They and other Holocaust victims were experimented upon by Josef Mengele, the so-called Angel of Death, who died February 7, 1979. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI
Sisters Lia Huber (L), and Yehudith Barnea (R) 80, surviving "Mengele Twins" of the Holocaust, look at photographs at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem on January 24. They and other Holocaust victims were experimented upon by Josef Mengele, the so-called Angel of Death, who died February 7, 1979. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI
File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI
File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI

In 1990, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev issued a series of reforms and the Communist Party gave up its 70-year monopoly of political power in the Soviet Union.

Jean Bertrand Aristide, president of Haiti, addresses the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2003, in New York City. On February 7, 1991, he was inaugurated as Haiti's first democratically elected president in 186 years. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI
Jean Bertrand Aristide, president of Haiti, addresses the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2003, in New York City. On February 7, 1991, he was inaugurated as Haiti's first democratically elected president in 186 years. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI

In 1991, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was inaugurated as Haiti's first democratically elected president in 186 years.

In 1992, the European Union was created when the Maastricht Treaty was signed. The treaty officially went into force Nov. 1, 1993.

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev waves through the open window of his limousine as he travels through downtown Washington, D.C., on June 1, 1990. On February 7, Gorbachev issued a series of reforms and the Communist Party gave up its 70-year monopoly of political power in the Soviet Union. File Photo by Bruce Young/UPI
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev waves through the open window of his limousine as he travels through downtown Washington, D.C., on June 1, 1990. On February 7, Gorbachev issued a series of reforms and the Communist Party gave up its 70-year monopoly of political power in the Soviet Union. File Photo by Bruce Young/UPI

In 1995, the mastermind in the 1993 bombing of New York's World Trade Center, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, was arrested in Pakistan. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1998.

In 1999, King Hussein of Jordan died of cancer at age 63. Hussein ruled Jordan for 46 years. Crown Prince Abdullah succeeded his father as king.

UPI File Photo
UPI File Photo

In 2009, the most deadly series of brushfires in Australian history claimed more than 200 lives, destroyed almost 2,000 homes and burned at least 1.1 million acres in Victoria state.

In 2020, Rep. Ron Wright of Texas died of COVID-19, becoming the first member of Congress to succumb to the disease.

In 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer. He had a game-high 38 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder to reach a total 38,389 points.

File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI