29 August: A Thousand Years Ago, Mainz Cathedral Burns; Dick Morris Resigns

Today is Saturday, Aug. 29, the 241st day of 2009. There are 124 days left in the year. UPI Almanac. AP A/V.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Aug. 29, 1944, 15,000 American troops marched down the Champs Elysees in Paris as the French capital continued to celebrate its liberation from the Nazis.

On this date:

One thousand years ago, in 1009, the Mainz Cathedral in Germany burned down the same day it was inaugurated. In 1533, the last Incan King of Peru, Atahualpa, was executed on orders of Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro. In 1632, English philosopher John Locke was born in Somerset. Two hundred years ago, in 1809, American author Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., was born in Cambridge, Mass. In 1877, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Brigham Young, died in Salt Lake City, Utah, at age 76. In 1943, responding to a clampdown by Nazi occupiers, Denmark managed to scuttle most of its naval ships. Sixty years ago, in 1949, the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb at a remote test site at Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan. In 1957, the Senate gave final congressional approval to a Civil Rights Act after South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond (then a Democrat) ended a filibuster that had lasted 24 hours. In 1965, Gemini 5, carrying astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles "Pete" Conrad, splashed down in the Atlantic after 8 days in space. In 1996, President Bill Clinton's chief political strategist, Dick Morris, resigned amid a scandal over his relationship with a prostitute. Ten years ago: Hurricane Dennis wallowed along the coast toward the Carolinas, prompting evacuation orders for the fragile Outer Banks barrier islands. Five years ago: Tropical Storm Gaston made landfall in South Carolina at near-hurricane strength. Protesters filling 20 city blocks peacefully swarmed Manhattan's streets on the eve of the Republican National Convention to demand that President George W. Bush be turned out of office. A car bomb at the office of a US security contractor in Afghanistan killed about ten people, including three Americans. Closing ceremonies were held in Athens, Greece, for the Olympic games. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast near Buras, La.; the resulting floods devastated the city of New Orleans. More than 1,800 people in the region died. One year ago: In a politically startling move, Republican John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a maverick conservative with less than two years in office, to be his vice- presidential running mate.

Today's Birthdays August 29

Actor-director Lord Richard Attenborough is 86. Movie director William Friedkin is 74. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is 73. Actor Elliott Gould is 71. Movie director Joel Schumacher is 70. TV personality Robin Leach is 68. Actor G.W. Bailey is 65. Actor Ray Wise is 62. Actress Deborah Van Valkenburgh is 57. Dancer-choreographer Mark Morris is 53. Country musician Dan Truman (Diamond Rio) is 53. Actress Rebecca DeMornay is 50. Singer Me'Shell NdegeOcello is 40. Rhythm-and-blues singer Carl Martin (Shai) is 39. Actress Carla Gugino is 38.

Today In Entertainment History August 29

In 1958, George Harrison joined John Lennon's band The Quarrymen, which also included bassist Paul McCartney and Ken Brown on drums. Pop superstar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Ind. In 1966, The Beatles ended their fourth American tour by performing what would be their last public concert, before 25,000 fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. [It took them eight yrs. — Ed.] In 1967, the last episode of "The Fugitive" aired. It was the largest audience in TV history until the "Who Shot J.R." episode of "Dallas."In 1982, actress Ingrid Bergman died on her 69th birthday. In 1991, Run from Run-DMC pleaded innocent in Cleveland to charges he raped a fan who asked for an autograph. In 1995, singer Gladys Knight married motivational speaker Les Brown. They have since divorced. In 2002, Eminem drew boos at the MTV Video Music Awards after he called Moby a girl and threatened to hit a guy with glasses, which Moby was wearing. That same night, Michael Jackson accepted a special award as a birthday present that he mistook for the Artist of the Millenium award.

Thought for Today:

"Don't be 'consistent,' but be simply true." — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1894).