On this day in 1917, Vladimir Lenin called for the October Revolution.
On this day in 1973, US President Richard M. Nixon agreed to turn over tapes of his Oval Office conversations amidst the Watergate scandal.
On this day in 2002, Chechen terrorists took approximately 700 theater-goers hostage and began the Moscow Theatre Siege.
On this day in 2004, a powerful earthquake hit northern Japan, killing 35 people, injuring 2,200, and leaving 85,000 homeless or evacuated.