Today in History - Oct. 5
2007-10-05 00:00:00
The Associated Press
By The Associated Press
Today is Friday, Oct. 5, the 278th day of 2007. There are 87 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On Oct. 5, 1947, President Truman delivered the first televised White House address. (Speaking about a world food crisis, Truman called on Americans to refrain from eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry as well as eggs on Thursdays.)
On this date:
In 1829, the 21st president of the United States, Chester Alan Arthur, was born in Fairfield, Vt. (Some sources list 1830.)
In 1892, the Dalton Gang, notorious for its train robberies, was practically wiped out while attempting to rob a pair of banks in Coffeyville, Kan.
In 1921, the World Series was broadcast on radio for the first time. (By series' end, the New York Giants had beaten the New York Yankees 5-3 in the best-of-nine contest.)
In 1931, Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon completed the first nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean, arriving in Washington state some 41 hours after leaving Japan.
In 1937, President Roosevelt, speaking in Chicago, called for a "quarantine" of aggressor nations.
In 1953, Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th chief justice of the United States, succeeding Fred M. Vinson.
In 1955, a stage adaptation of "The Diary of Anne Frank" by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett opened at the Cort Theatre in New York.
In 1981, President Reagan signed a resolution granting honorary American citizenship to Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, credited with saving thousands of Hungarians, most of them Jews, from the Nazis during World War II.
In 1986, American Eugene Hasenfus was captured by Sandinista soldiers after the weapons plane he was flying in was shot down over southern Nicaragua.
In 1988, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen lambasted Republican Dan Quayle during their vice-presidential debate, telling Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
Ten years ago: The White House released videotapes of President Clinton greeting supporters at 44 coffee klatches; Republicans seized on the tapes as proof that Clinton had raised campaign donations at the White House in violation of the law.
Five years ago: Addressing police and National Guardsmen in New Hampshire, President Bush warned that Saddam Hussein could strike without notice and inflict "massive and sudden horror" on America. Bosnia's three nationalist parties beat moderates in the country's first self-organized elections since the 1992-5 war.
One year ago: The House ethics committee opened an expansive investigation into the unfolding congressional page sex scandal that resulted in the resignation of U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Baghdad, where she warned Iraqi leaders they had limited time to settle their differences. NATO took over eastern Afghanistan from U.S.-led forces, assuming control of 12,000 American troops and extending its military role to the entire country.
Today's Birthdays: "Family Circus" cartoonist Bil Keane is 85. Actress Glynis Johns is 84. Comedian Bill Dana is 83. Actress Diane Cilento is 74. The former president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, is 71. Rhythm-and-blues singer Arlene Smith (The Chantels) is 66. Singer Richard Street is 65. Singer-musician Steve Miller is 64. Rock singer Brian Johnson (AC/DC) is 60. Actor Jeff Conaway is 57. Actress Karen Allen is 56. Writer-producer-director Clive Barker is 55. Rock musician David Bryson (Counting Crows) is 53. Rock singer and famine-relief organizer Bob Geldof is 53. Comedian Bernie Mac is 50. Actor Daniel Baldwin is 47. Rock singer-musician Dave Dederer (Presidents of the United States of America) is 43. Actor Guy Pearce is 40. Singer-actress Heather Headley is 33. Rock musician Brian Mashburn (Save Ferris) is 32. Actress Parminder Nagra is 32. Actor Scott Weinger is 32. Actress Kate Winslet is 32. Rock musician James Valentine (Maroon 5) is 29. Rock musician Paul Thomas (Good Charlotte) is 27. TV personality Nicky Hilton is 24. Rhythm-and-blues singer Brooke Valentine is 22.
Thought for Today: "Every ambitious man is a captive, and every covetous one, a pauper." — Arab proverb.
Subject: Today in History - Oct. 5 
Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:17 am
