Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła, served as Pope from 1978 to 2005 and was the first non-Italian pope in over 400 years. He played a significant role in ending communism in Europe and was canonized as a saint in 2014.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Tennessee Valley Authority Act, creating the TVA to provide navigation, flood control, and electricity generation in the region.
Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington state, killing 57 people and causing massive destruction to the surrounding landscape.