Today's Highlight in History:
On Sept. 17, 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland during World War II, more than two weeks after Nazi Germany had launched its assault. [They said they'd had the idea first, though. — Ed.]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, Union forces fought Confederate invaders in the Civil War Battle of Antietam at Sharpsburg, Md. With 23,100 killed, wounded or captured, it remains the bloodiest day in U.S. military history.
In 1907, Warren Burger, the 15th chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, was born in St. Paul, Minn.
One hundred years ago, in 1909, the first trolley crossed New York City's recently opened Queensboro Bridge in a test run. (Regular service began Oct. 4; the trolley was shut down in 1957.)
In 1920, the American Professional Football Association — a precursor of the NFL — was formed in Canton, Ohio.
In 1944, 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 1947, James V. Forrestal was sworn in as the first U.S. secretary of defense.
In 1948, the United Nations mediator for Palestine, Count Folke Bernadotte, was assassinated in Jerusalem by Jewish extremists.
Sixty years ago, in 1949, more than 120 people died when fire gutted the Canadian passenger steamship SS Noronic at a pier in Toronto.
Fifty years ago, in 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev traveled by train from Washington to New York City, where he received a low-key welcome from New Yorkers.
In 1976, NASA unveiled the space shuttle Enterprise.
In 1978, after meeting at Camp David, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed a framework for a peace treaty.
In 1984, Progressive Conservative leader Brian Mulroney took office as Canada's 18th prime minister.
In 1986, the Senate confirmed the nomination of William H. Rehnquist as the 16th chief justice of the United States.In 1991, North Korea, South Korea, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were admitted to the United Nations.
In 1992, special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh called a halt to his five-and-a-half-year probe of the Iran-Contra scandal.
In 1994, Heather Whitestone of Alabama became the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss America. [What? — Ed.]
In 1996, former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew died at age 77.
In 1997, Northern Ireland's main Protestant party joined peace talks, bringing the major players together for first time.
Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton lifted restrictions on trade, travel and banking imposed on North Korea a half-century earlier, rewarding it for agreeing to curb missile tests.
In 2001, Wall Street trading resumed for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - its longest shutdown since the Depression; the Dow lost 684.81 points, its worst one-day point drop to date. Pro sporting events resumed after a six-day hiatus following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
In 2003, New York Stock Exchange chairman Dick Grasso resigned amid a furor over his $139.5 million pay package.
Five years ago: President Vladimir Putin said Russia was "seriously preparing" for pre-emptive strikes against terrorists, as Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev took responsibility for a school hostage-taking and other attacks that had claimed more than 430 lives. San Francisco's Barry Bonds hit the 700th home run of his career, joining Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) as the only players to reach the milestone.
One year ago: Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and offered the people of Afghanistan his "personal regrets" for U.S. airstrikes that had killed civilians and said he would try to improve the accuracy of air warfare. A suicide attack on the U.S. Embassy in San'a, Yemen killed 19 people, including an American woman and six militants.
In 2003, New York Stock Exchange chairman Dick Grasso resigned amid a furor over his $139.5 million pay package.
Five years ago: President Vladimir Putin said Russia was "seriously preparing" for pre-emptive strikes against terrorists, as Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev took responsibility for a school hostage-taking and other attacks that had claimed more than 430 lives. San Francisco's Barry Bonds hit the 700th home run of his career, joining Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) as the only players to reach the milestone.
One year ago: Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and offered the people of Afghanistan his "personal regrets" for U.S. airstrikes that had killed civilians and said he would try to improve the accuracy of air warfare. A suicide attack on the U.S. Embassy in San'a, Yemen killed 19 people, including an American woman and six militants.
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