On this day, Nov. 25 …

1999: Elian Gonzalez, a 5-year-old Cuban boy, is rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida, setting off an international custody battle.

Also on this day:

1783: The British evacuate New York during the Revolutionary War.

The British evacuate New York during the Revolutionary War. 1915: A new version of the Ku Klux Klan, targeting blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants, is founded by William Joseph Simmons.

A new version of the Ku Klux Klan, targeting blacks, Jews, Catholics and immigrants, is founded by William Joseph Simmons. 1940: Woody Woodpecker makes his debut in the animated short “Knock Knock.”

Woody Woodpecker makes his debut in the animated short “Knock Knock.” 1961: The first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, is commissioned.

The first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise, is commissioned. 1963: The body of President John F. Kennedy is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery; his widow, Jacqueline, lights an “eternal flame” at the gravesite.

The body of President John F. Kennedy is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery; his widow, Jacqueline, lights an “eternal flame” at the gravesite. 1986: The Iran-Contra affair erupts as President Ronald Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese reveal that profits from secret arms sales to Iran were diverted to Nicaraguan rebels.

The Iran-Contra affair erupts as President Ronald Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese reveal that profits from secret arms sales to Iran were diverted to Nicaraguan rebels. 1987: Harold Washington, the first black mayor of Chicago, dies in office at age 65.

Harold Washington, the first black mayor of Chicago, dies in office at age 65. 2001: As the war in Afghanistan enters its eighth week, CIA officer Johnny “Mike” Spann is killed during a prison uprising in Mazar-e-Sharif, becoming America’s first combat casualty of the conflict.

As the war in Afghanistan enters its eighth week, CIA officer Johnny “Mike” Spann is killed during a prison uprising in Mazar-e-Sharif, becoming America’s first combat casualty of the conflict. 2002: President George W. Bush signs legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security, and appoints Tom Ridge to be its head.

President George W. Bush signs legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security, and appoints Tom Ridge to be its head. 2008: Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick pleads guilty to a Virginia dogfighting charge, receiving a three-year suspended sentence.

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick pleads guilty to a Virginia dogfighting charge, receiving a three-year suspended sentence. 2013: Prosecutors close their yearlong investigation into the shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., that claimed the lives of 26 victims; their report says the motive of gunman Adam Lanza, who also killed his mother and himself, might never be known.