On This Day March 16
1970 – Motown singer Tammi Terrell — who had 10 hit duets with Marvin Gaye, including “Your Precious Love,” “You’re All I Need to Get By” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” — dies of a brain tumor at the age of 24. Terrell’s battle with cancer began in 1967, when she collapsed in Gaye’s arms during a performance.
1802 – President Thomas Jefferson signs legislation establishing the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York to train officers for the United States Army. The Academy’s motto is “Duty, Honor, Country.”
2008 – The first domino falls in what comes to be known as the Great Recession — the worst panic to grip Wall Street since 1929. Bear Stearns, the 85-year-old investment bank, is acquired by J.P. Morgan Chase and Co. at the shockingly low price of $2 per share.
Own a Piece of This Day
House of Debt: How They (and You) Caused the Great Recession, and How We Can Prevent It from Happening Again