1654 - Portuguese troops conquer last Dutch base on Recife 1907 - John Millington Synge's "Playboy of Western World" opens in Dublin; play claimed as immoral and causes riots 1924 - American skater Charles Jewtraw claims the first ever Winter Olympic gold medal; wins 500m speed skating event in 44.0s at the Chamonix Games in France 1929 - Indian National Congress proclaims goal for India's independence 1969 - "Red, White, and Maddox" opens at Cort Theater NYC for 41 performances 1980 - 175,000 pay to hear Frank Sinatra sing in Rio de Janeiro 1989 - "Black and Blue" opens at Minskoff Theater NYC for 829 performances 2005 - Condoleezza Rice is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State, the first African American woman to hold the post More Historical Events »