On this day in 1846, the planet Neptune is discovered by German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle in his backyard. He calls police, who return the planet to its proper orbit.
On this day in 1952, vice-presidential candidate Richard Nixon delivers what comes to be known as the "Checkers" speech, where he publicly apologizes to his wife and family for having played a game of "strip checkers" with Clare Boothe Luce.