Today in History
Today is Saturday, Sept. 17, the 261st day of 2016. There are 105 days
left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Sept. 17, 1978,
after meeting at Camp David, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin
(men-AH'-kem BAY'-gihn) and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed a
framework for a peace treaty. On this date: In 1787, the Constitution
of the United States was completed and signed by a majority of
delegates attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. In
1862, more than 3,600 men were killed in the Civil War Battle of
Antietam (an-TEE'-tum) in Maryland. In 1908, Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge of
the U.S. Army Signal Corps became the first person to die in the crash
of a powered aircraft, the Wright Flyer, at Fort Myer, Virginia, just
outside Washington D.C. In 1937, the likeness of President Abraham
Lincoln's head was dedicated at Mount Rushmore. In 1939, the Soviet
Union invaded Poland during World War II, more than two weeks after
Nazi Germany had launched its assault. In 1944, during World War II,
Allied paratroopers launched Operation Market Garden, landing behind
German lines in the Netherlands. (After initial success, the Allies
were beaten back by the Germans.) In 1955, Tennessee Ernie Ford
recorded "Sixteen Tons" by Merle Travis for Capitol Records in
Hollywood. In 1966, "Mission: Impossible" premiered on CBS. In 1971,
citing health reasons, Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, 85, retired.
(Black, who was succeeded by Lewis F. Powell Jr., died eight days after
making his announcement.) In 1984, Progressive Conservative leader
Brian Mulroney (muhl-ROO'-nee) took office as Canada's 18th prime
minister. In 1986, the Senate confirmed the nomination of William H.
Rehnquist to become the 16th chief justice of the United States. In
1996, Former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew died in Berlin, Maryland, at
age 77. Ten years ago: Pope Benedict XVI said he was "deeply sorry" his
recent remarks on Islam and violence had offended Muslims, but the
unusual expression of papal regret drew a mixed reaction from Islamic
leaders, some of whom said it wasn't enough. Five Duquesne (doo-KAYN')
basketball players were shot and wounded during an apparent act of
random violence on the Pittsburgh campus. (Four people later pleaded
guilty in connection with the shootings; the two who wielded guns
received prison sentences.) Patricia Kennedy Lawford, the sister of
President John F. Kennedy and ex-wife of actor Peter Lawford, died in
New York City at age 82. Five years ago: A demonstration calling itself
Oc'cup'y Wall Street began in New York, prompting similar protests
around the U.S. and the world. Charles H. Percy, 91, a Chicago
businessman who became a U.S. senator and was once widely viewed as a
top presidential contender, died in Washington. One year ago: General
Motors agreed to pay $900 million to fend off criminal prosecution over
the deadly ignition-switch scandal, striking a deal that brought
criticism down on the Justice Department for not bringing charges
against individual employees; GM also announced it would spend $575
million to settle the majority of the civil lawsuits filed over the
scandal. The Federal Reserve kept U.S interest rates at record lows in
the face of threats from a weak global economy, persistently low
inflation and unstable financial markets. Today's Birthdays: Sen.
Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, is 83. Retired Supreme Court Justice David
H. Souter is 77. Singer LaMonte McLemore (The Fifth Dimension) is 81.
Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni is 73. Basketball Hall of Fame coach
Phil Jackson is 71. Singer Fee Waybill is 66. Actress Cassandra
Peterson ("Elvira, Mistress of the Dark") is 65. Comedian Rita Rudner
is 63. Muppeteer Kevin Clash (former voice of Elmo on "Sesame Street")
is 56. Director-actor Paul Feig is 54. Movie director Baz Luhrmann is
54. Singer BeBe Winans is 54. TV personality /businessman Robert
Herjavec (TV: "Shark Tank") is 53. Actor Kyle Chandler is 51.
Director-producer Bryan Singer is 51. Rapper Doug E. Fresh is 50. Actor
Malik Yoba is 49. Rock singer Anastacia is 48. Rock musician Keith
Flint (Prodigy) is 47. Actor Matthew Settle is 47. Rapper Vinnie
(Naughty By Nature) is 46. Actor Felix Solis is 45. Rhythm-and-blues
singer Marcus Sanders (Hi-Five) is 43. Actress-singer Nona Gaye is 42.
Singer-actor Constantine Maroulis is 41. NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson
is 41. Pop singer Maile (MY'-lee) Misajon (Eden's Crush) is 40. Country
singer-songwriter Stephen Cochran is 37. Rock musician Chuck Comeau
(Simple Plan) is 37. Actor Billy Miller is 37. Country singer Desi
Wasdin (3 of Hearts) is 33. Rock musician Jon Walker is 31. Actress
Danielle Brooks is 27. Actress-singer Denyse Tontz is 22. Thought for
Today: "Governments exist to protect the rights of minorities. The
loved and the rich need no protection they have many friends and few
enemies. Wendell Phillips, American abolitionist (1811-1884).
