Today in History
Today is Thursday, Sept. 8, the 252nd day of 2016. There are 114 days
left in the year. Today's Highlights in History: On Sept. 8, 1966, the
science-fiction series "Star Trek" premiered on NBC; the situation
comedy "That Girl," starring Marlo Thomas, debuted on ABC. On this
date: In 1565, a Spanish expedition established the first permanent
European settlement in North America at present-day St. Augustine,
Florida. In 1761, Britain's King George III married Princess Charlotte
of Mecklenburg-Strelitz a few hours after meeting her for the first
time. In 1892, an early version of "The Pledge of Allegiance," written
by Francis Bellamy, appeared in "The Youth's Companion. In 1900,
Galveston, Texas, was struck by a hurricane that killed an estimated
8,000 people. In 1921, Margaret Gorman, 16, of Washington, D.C., was
crowned the first "Miss America" in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In 1935,
Sen. Huey P. Long, D-La., was shot and mortally wounded inside the
Louisiana State Capitol; he died two days later. (The assailant was
identified as Dr. Carl Weiss, who was gunned down by Long's
bodyguards.) In 1941, the 900-day Siege of Leningrad by German forces
began during World War II. In 1951, a peace treaty with Japan was
signed by 49 nations in San Francisco. In 1974, President Gerald R.
Ford granted a "full, free, and absolute pardon" to former President
Richard Nixon covering his entire term in office. In 1985, Pete Rose of
the Cincinnati Reds tied Ty Cobb's career record for hits, singling for
hit number 4,191 during a game against the Cubs in Chicago. In 1986,
"The Oprah Winfrey Show" began the first of 25 seasons in national
syndication. In 1994, USAir Flight 427, a Boeing 737, crashed into a
ravine as it was approaching Pittsburgh International Airport, killing
all 132 people on board. Ten years ago: A Senate report faulted
intelligence gathering in the lead-up to the 2003 U.S. invasion of
Iraq, and said Saddam Hussein regarded al-Qaida as a threat rather than
a possible ally, contradicting assertions President George W. Bush had
used to build support for the war. A suicide car bomber struck a convoy
of U.S. military vehicles in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing 16 people,
including two American soldiers. Five years ago: Addressing a joint
session of Congress, President Barack Obama challenged a reluctant
Congress to urgently pass a larger-than-expected $450 billion jobs plan
to "jolt an economy that has stalled. Ten oil workers were forced to
abandon a crippled 94-foot research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico and
pile into a life raft during Tropical Storm Nate; by the time rescuers
arrived three days after, three of the men had died, and a fourth died
later at a hospital. One year ago: After resisting apologizing for
using a personal email account run on a private server to conduct
government business as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton shifted
course, telling ABC News, "That was a mistake. I'm sorry about that. I
take responsibility. Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Kentucky, clerk
jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, was
released after five days behind bars, emerging to a hero's welcome from
thousands of supporters. United Airlines abruptly replaced CEO Jeffrey
Smisek (SMY'-zek) as a federal investigation continued into whether the
airline had given preferential treatment to David Samson, former
chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the agency
that operated the New York-area airports. (Samson later admitted using
his position to get personal favors from United; Smisek has not been
charged with any criminal wrongdoing.) Today's Birthdays: Ventriloquist
Willie Tyler is 76. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is 75. Actor Alan
Feinstein is 75. Pop singer Sal Valentino (The Beau Brummels) is 74.
Author Ann Beattie is 69. Cajun singer Zachary Richard (ree-SHARD') is
66. Musician Will Lee is 64. Actress Heather Thomas is 59. Singer Aimee
Mann is 56. Pop musician David Steele (Fine Young Cannibals) is 56.
Actor Thomas Kretschmann is 54. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marc Gordon
(Levert) is 52. Gospel singer Darlene Zschech (chehk) is 51.
Alternative country singer Neko (NEE'-koh) Case is 46. TV personality
Brooke Burke-Charvet is 45. Actor Martin Freeman is 45. Actor David
Arquette is 45. TV-radio personality Kennedy is 44. Rock musician
Richard Hughes (Keane) is 41. Actor Larenz Tate is 41. Actor Nathan
Corddry is 39. Rhythm-and-blues singer Pink is 37. Singer-songwriter
Eric Hutchinson is 36. Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas is 35. Rapper Wiz
Khalifa is 29. Dance music artist AVICII is 27. Thought for Today: "Try
to learn something about everything and everything about something.
T.H. Huxley, English biologist and author (1825-1895).
