Today in history

Throwback Thursday: On this day in history, Dec. 17, the Wright brothers took their first powered flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903. Click through for a look back at this and other events today in history.

In this photo, Orville Wright, lying at the controls on the lower wing, pilots the Wright Flyer on the first powered flight by a heavier-than-air aircraft.

In the moments before going airborne, his brother, Wilbur Wright, watching right, guided and steadied the plane as it accelerated along the starting rail at left.

Babe Didrikson

Babe Didrikson drives a ball during the $1500 Southern California Open Golf Tournament at Oakmont Golf Course in Glendale, Calif., Dec. 17, 1936. She shot an 87, nine over par, during this round in her first major tournament against men.

Concorde maiden flight

The British assembled pre-production Concorde 01 taking to the air from Filton maiden flight, Dec. 17, 1971. The plane's flight was cut short because of red warning lights on undercarriage circuit. It was landed at Fairford after direct flight there instead of longer trip, but Mr. Brian Trubhsaw, flight test director of BAC's commercial aircraft division made perfect landing and said defect was apparently minor.

Jimmy Carter lifts travel bans

President Jimmy Carter is surrounded by journalists after a news conference where he announced the lifting of the travel ban on Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea and Cambodia, in the executive office building in Washington, D.C., March 9, 1977.

Carter tried to normalize relations with Cuba shortly after taking office in 1977, re-establishing diplomatic missions and negotiating release of thousands of prisoners. But conflicts over Cuba's military mission in Africa, tension caused by a flood of Cuban refugees in 1980 and the election of Ronald Reagan stymied the rapprochement.

On Dec. 17, 2014, the U.S. and Cuba agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations and open economic and travel ties, marking a historic shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island after a half-century of enmity dating back to the Cold War.

Security forces in Lhasa

Security forces move through a square in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa during an anti-government demonstration on Saturday, Dec. 17, 1988.

Shirley Temple comeback

Now a glamorous brunette of 29, Shirley Temple is fitted into a gown by Marie Johnson as she prepares to return to the show business, in which she started as a cuddly blonde two-year-old, Dec. 17, 1957, Hollywood, Calif.

Tiny Tim gets married

Tiny Tim, Herbert Buckingham Khaury, and "Miss Vicky," Victoria May Budinger, are about to share a kiss after they are married during the taping of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in an NBC-TV studio in New York on Dec. 17, 1969.

Geoge Bush signs intelligence act

President Bush, center seated, signs the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 during a ceremony at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Friday, Dec. 17, 2004 in Washington. Bush signed into law the largest overhaul of U.S. intelligence gathering in 50 years, hoping to improve the spy network that failed to prevent the Sept. 11 attacks. Standing on stage with Bush are from l-r Senate Majority Leader Bill First, R-Tenn., Vice Chairman, former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., Sen. Joe Lieberman , D-Conn., Chairman of the 9/11 Commission Thomas Kean, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Peter Hoekstra , R-Mich., and C.I.A. Director Porter Goss. (

Plane crashes in Brooklyn

The tail section and part of a wing lie in Brooklyn intersection following crash of United Airlines jet airliner in New York, Dec. 17, 1960. Other parts of wreckage and rubble fill street where a row of buildings, including a church, was set afire in the crash. The jetliner plunged into the Brooklyn residential section following collision in the air over Staten Island with a TWA airliner that crashed on Miller Army air field, Staten Island. At least 134 persons were killed in the disaster.

Roman Polanski

File - Movie director Roman Polanski talks with correctional officers in this Dec. 17, 1977 file photo taken at Chino Mens Institute in Chino, Calif. Polanski, who pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl was beginning a court ordered 90-day psychiatric study at the time. Polanski has been taken into custody by Swiss police on a 31-year-old U.S. arrest warrant, organizers of the Zurich Film Festival said Sunday Sept. 27, 2009. Zurich police spokesman Stefan Oberlin confirmed Polanski's arrest, but refused to provide more details.

Kofi Annan becomes UN sec. general

Kofi Annan, center, is congratulated by staff members of the United Nations in New York Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1996, after taking the oath of office of secretary general. Annan, 58, from Ghana, succeeds Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

Bhopal aftermath

Workers spray water on a section of tarpaulin fencing erected around the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, Dec. 17, 1984, to make sure that any escaping gas would be trapped. No leaks were reported as remaining poisonous gas was converted to pesticide.

"Squeaky" Fromme in court

Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was taken from the Federal Court in Sacramento, Dec. 17, 1975 by a U.S. Marshal and a matron after receiving a life sentence for attempting to assassinate President Ford with a gun during his visit to the California capital city on September 5.

NJ allows gay couple to adopt

Jon Holden, left, and his partner Michael Galluccio, right, hold 2-year-old Adam Holden Galluccio during an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) news conference in Newark, N.J. Wednesday Dec. 17, 1997. In a landmark agreement, approved by a state judge, New Jersey will allow joint adoption of children in the state foster care system by gay or unmarried couples.

Betsy Ross' grave

University of Pennsylvania archaeologist-anthropologist Allan Mann searches the Betsy Ross grave site on Dec. 17, 1975 in Philadelphia.

The remains of Betsy Ross were removed from the cemetery and placed in the garden of her former home in Philadelphia.

Dr. Albert Sabin

Dr. Albert Sabin, right, whose live polio vaccine is now being tested extensively throughout the world, is shown at Cincinnati's Children's Convalescent Hospital with Mark Stacey, 5, who contracted paralytic polio, Dec. 17, 1959. With them are Dr. Walter Langsam, center, president of the University of Cincinnati.

Rwandan refugees return home

Rwandan refugees ask for biscuits from a relief worker at a food distribution point for refugees walking home near Rusumo, Rwanda, Dec. 17, 1996.

Hundreds of thousands refugees returned to their villages from Tanzania after more than two and half years of exile.