February 25 in History

• 1570

  February 25, 1570:

  Pope Pius V excommunicates England’s Queen Elizabeth I from the Catholic Church for persecuting English Catholics.

• 1949

  February 25, 1949:

  American actor Robert Mitchum is released from jail after serving a two-month sentence for marijuana possession.

• 1950

  February 25, 1950:

  The television variety show, “Your Show of Shows” makes its debut on NBC.

• 1957

  February 25, 1957:

  The rock and roll band, The Crickets record “That'll Be the Day” at the Norman Petty Recording Studio in New Mexico.

• 1964

  February 25, 1964:

  American boxer Cassius Clay (later to be known as Muhammad Ali) knocks out Sonny Liston in seven rounds to become the world heavyweight champion.

• 1986

  February 25, 1986:

  Ferdinand E. Marcos, the President of the Philippines is ousted following election fraud in his favor over Corazon Aquiro.

• 1990

  February 25, 1990:

  Violeta Barrios de Chamorro pulls a surprise victory over Nicaraguan incumbent president Daniel Ortega in the country’s general elections.

• 2004

  February 25, 2004:

  The biblical drama film, “The Passion of the Christ”, directed by Mel Gibson, is released.