

On Nov. 2, 1947, Howard Hughes built and piloted the world's largest airplane, the 200-ton flying boat Spruce Goose, on its only flight, at Long Beach, Calif

On November 2, 1947, Howard Hughes built and piloted the world's largest airplane, the 200-ton flying boat Spruce Goose, on its only flight, at Long Beach, Calif. The Goose remained airborne for just under 1 mile. File Photo courtesy the Federal Aviation Administration UPI Chicago Cubs Kris Bryant celebrates with Anthony Rizzo (44) after the final out over the Cleveland Indians during the 10th inning of World Series Game 7 at Progressive Field in Cleveland on November 2, 2016. Chicago won 8-7 to celebrate a World Series win for the first time in 108 years. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI UPI President George W. Bush, along with his family and Vice President Dick Cheney, delivers his 2004 election victory speech at the Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., on November 3, 2004. File Photo by Greg Whitesell/UPI UPI On November 2, 1920, in the first significant news broadcast, KDKA in Pittsburgh reported Warren G. Harding's win over James Cox in the presidential election. Photo courtesy the Library of Congress UPI
Today is Monday, Nov. 2, the 306th day of 2026 with 59 to follow.
The moon is waning. Morning stars are Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus and Venus. Evening stars are Neptune, Saturn and Uranus.
Those born on this date are under the sign of Scorpio. They include frontiersman Daniel Boone in 1734; Marie Antoinette, queen of France, in 1755; James Polk, the 11th president of the United States, in 1795; Warren G. Harding, the 29th president of the United States, in 1865; International Tennis Hall of Fame member Ken Rosewall in 1934 (age 92); writer/commentator Pat Buchanan in 1938 (age 88); writer Shere Hite in 1942; actor Stefanie Powers in 1942 (age 84); musician J.D. Souther (Souther-Hillman-Furay Band/Longbranch/Pennywhistle) in 1945; musician Dave Pegg (Fairport Convention/Jethro Tull) in 1947 (age 79); writer Dale Brown in 1956 (age 70); musician Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews Band) in 1958 (age 68); actor Peter Mullan in 1959 (age 67); musician k.d. lang in 1961 (age 65); musician Bobby Dall (Poison) in 1963 (age 63); actor Luna Lauren Vélez in 1964 (age 62); actor David Schwimmer in 1966 (age 60); musician Fieldy (Korn) in 1969 (age 57); actor Meta Golding in 1971 (age 55); actor Marisol Nichols in 1973 (age 53); musician Nelly in 1974 (age 52); actor Danny Cooksey in 1975 (age 51); musician Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie/Postal Service) in 1975 (age 51); TV personality Karamo Brown in 1980 (age 46); musician/actor Kendall Schmidt (Big Time Rush/Heffron Drive) in 1990 (age 36); actor Naomi Ackie in 1992 (age 34); actor Brielle Barbusca in 1998 (age 28); NFL player Jordan Love in 1998 (age 28); soccer player Alphonso Davies in 2000 (age 26); actor Sunny Sandler in 2008 (age 18).
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On this date in history:
In 1889, North and South Dakota became the 39th and 40th states of the union.
In 1920, in the first significant news broadcast, KDKA in Pittsburgh reported the U.S. presidential election results in Warren G. Harding's win over James Cox.
In 1947, Howard Hughes built and piloted the world's largest airplane, the 200-ton flying boat Spruce Goose, on its only flight, at Long Beach, Calif. The Goose remained airborne for just under 1 mile.
In 1959, Charles Van Doren told a U.S. congressional investigation he had been given questions and answers in advance of appearances on a television game show.
In 1962, U.S. President John Kennedy announced that Soviet missile bases in Cuba were being dismantled.
In 1976, Democrat Jimmy Carter, former governor of Georgia, was elected the 39th U.S. president, defeating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford.
In 1983, U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill establishing a national holiday to mark the birthday anniversary of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1992, legendary filmmaker Hal Roach died at age 100. He was credited with discovering the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy and producing the Our Gang comedies.
In 2004, U.S. President George W. Bush was re-elected in a race with Democrat John Kerry.
In 2013, two French journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, were kidnapped and killed after interviewing a rebel leader in northern Mali. President Francois Hollande expressed "indignation at this odious act."
In 2016, the Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the World Series, winning the team's first championship in 108 years.
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In 2023, the Beatles released their last new song, "Now and Then," using new technology to piece together vocals, guitar and piano recorded by the late John Lennon and George Harrison in the late 1970s with new additions by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
In 2024, Kemi Badenoch became the first Black woman to lead a major British political party after defeating Robert Jenrick to take the helm of the country's Conservative and Unionist Party.
A thought for the day: "You gotta be a man to play baseball for a living, but you gotta have a lot of little boy in you, too." -- Baseball Hall of Fame member Roy Campanella