Today in History

Today in History

Today is Saturday, July 18, the 199th day of 2009. There are 166 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On July 18, 1969, a car driven by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island near Martha’s Vineyard; although Kennedy managed to escape the submerged vehicle, his passenger, 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne, drowned. (Kennedy subsequently pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended two-month jail sentence.)

On this date:

In A.D. 64, the Great Fire of Rome began.

In 1536, the English Parliament passed an act declaring the authority of the pope void in England.

In 1792, American naval hero John Paul Jones died in Paris at age 45.

In 1872, Britain enacted voting by secret ballot.

In 1918, American and French forces launched a counteroffensive against the Germans during the Second Battle of the Marne in World War I.

In 1932, the United States and Canada signed a treaty to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway.

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed a Presidential Succession Act which placed the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore next in the line of succession after the vice president.

In 1984, gunman James Huberty opened fire at a McDonald’s fast food restaurant in San Ysidro, Calif., killing 21 people before being shot dead by police. Walter F. Mondale won the Democratic presidential nomination in San Francisco.

In 1989, actress Rebecca Schaeffer, 21, was shot to death at her Los Angeles home by obsessed fan Robert Bardo, who was later sentenced to life in prison.

In 1994, a bomb hidden in a van destroyed a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 85.

Ten years ago: Authorities looking into the disappearance of the plane carrying John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife and sister-in-law announced that the “search and rescue” operation had become “search and recovery.” David Cone of the New York Yankees pitched a perfect game against the Montreal Expos, leading his team to a 6-0 victory. Paul Lawrie won the British Open in a three-way playoff after Jean Van de Velde triple-bogeyed on the 72nd hole.

Five years ago: A spokesman said California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would not apologize for mocking certain lawmakers as “girlie men,” despite criticisms from Democrats that the remark was sexist and homophobic. Todd Hamilton beat Ernie Els in a playoff to win the British Open. Former EPA chief Anne Gorsuch Burford died in Aurora, Colo., at age 62.

One year ago: One of the world’s largest mobile cranes collapsed at a refinery in southeast Houston, killing four people and injuring seven others. Two French humanitarian aid workers were kidnapped in Afghanistan’s Day Kundi province. (They were released about two weeks later.) The epic Batman sequel “The Dark Knight,” starring Christian Bale as the caped crusader and Heath Ledger as the Joker, premiered.

Today’s Birthdays: Former South African President Nelson Mandela is 91. Former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, is 88. Skating champion and commentator Dick Button is 80. Movie director Paul Verhoeven is 71. Singer Brian Auger is 70. Singer Dion DiMucci is 70. Actor James Brolin is 69. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre is 69. Singer Martha Reeves is 68. Blues guitarist Lonnie Mack is 68. Pop-rock musician Wally Bryson (The Raspberries) is 60. Country-rock singer Craig Fuller (Pure Prairie League) is 60. Actress Margo Martindale is 58. Singer Ricky Skaggs is 55. Rock musician Nigel Twist (The Alarm) is 51. Actress Anne-Marie Johnson is 49. Actress Elizabeth McGovern is 48. Rock musician John Hermann (Widespread Panic) is 47. Rock musician Jack Irons is 47. Actor Vin Diesel is 42. Former NBA player Penny Hardaway is 38. Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Torii Hunter is 34. Dance music singer-songwriter M.I.A. is 34. Rock musician Daron Malakian (System of a Down; Scars on Broadway) is 34. Rock musician Tony Fagenson (Eve 6) is 31. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch is 30. Movie director Jared Hess is 30. Actor Jason Weaver is 30. Actress Kristen Bell is 29. Rock singer Ryan Cabrera is 27. Christian-rock musician Aaron Gillespie (Underoath) is 26. Actor Chace Crawford is 24. Bluegrass musician Joe Dean Jr. (Dailey & Vincent) is 20.

Thought for Today: “In these times we fight for ideas, and newspapers are our fortresses.” — Heinrich Heine, German poet and critic (1797-1856).