TODAY IN HISTORY

MAY 9

1914

Mother's Day became a public holiday.

1926

Explorers Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett flew over the North Pole.

1936

Fascist Italy annexed Ethiopia.

1962

The Beatles signed their first recording contract and hired George Martin to be their producer.

1978

The body of slain former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro was found in an automobile in Rome.

1984

It took the Chicago White Sox 25 innings, eight hours, and six minutes, over two days, to finally defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6. It was the longest game (in elapsed time) in major-league history.

1994

The South African parliament chose Nelson Mandela as president.

2004

Chechnya's Moscow-backed leader, Akhmad Kadyrov, was killed in a bombing. Six others were killed and another 60 wounded.