On this day: October 19
Marathon Winner Disqualified After Riding Subway During Race
On October 19, 1980, a marathon winner was stripped of the title after race officials concluded he had used the city's subway to cover part of the course. The decision sparked controversy over verification methods and race integrity.
Charles Manson Sentenced to Death in 1971 for Tate–LaBianca Murders
On October 19, 1971, Charles Manson and three associates were sentenced to death in Los Angeles after conviction for their roles in the 1969 Tate–LaBianca murders; the sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment when California abolished capital punishment in 1972.
U.S. Enacts Oil Embargo Amid 1973 Middle East War
On October 19, 1973, during the Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur War, the United States announced an embargo on oil exports to certain nations aligned with opponents, marking a pivotal moment in global energy and diplomatic relations.
Black Monday: Wall Street’s Worst Single-Day Crash, October 19, 1987
On October 19, 1987—dubbed Black Monday—U.S. stock markets suffered their largest single-day percentage decline in history, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging 22.6%, triggering global market turmoil and prompting new attention to computerized trading and market safeguards.