Today's Highlight in History:
On Sept. 21, 1897, responding to a letter from 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon, the New York Sun ran its famous editorial by Francis P. Church that declared, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy."On this date:
In 1792, the French National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy.One hundred years ago, in 1909, Ghanian statesman Kwame Nkrumah was born in Nkroful in the British-ruled Gold Coast.
In 1893, the first successful American-made, gasoline-operated motorcar appeared on the streets of Springfield, Mass. It was designed and built by Charles and Frank Duryea.
In 1931, Britain went off the gold standard.
In 1937, "The Hobbit," by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published.
In 1938, a hurricane struck parts of New York and New England, causing widespread damage and claiming some 700 lives.
In 1964, Malta gained independence from Britain.
In 1970, "Monday Night Football" made its debut on ABC as the Browns defeated the New York Jets 31-21 in Cleveland.
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter's budget director, Bert Lance, resigned amid controversy over past business and banking practices.
In 1982, Amin Gemayel, brother of Lebanon's assassinated president-elect, Bashir Gemayel, was himself elected president. NFL players began a 57-day strike, their first regular-season walkout ever.
In 1983, Interior Secretary James G. Watt described a special advisory panel as consisting of "a black ... a woman, two Jews and a cripple." Watt later apologized and resigned. Sound Bite Me: James Watt tells it like it is.
In 1987, NFL players called a strike, mainly over the issue of free agency. (The 24-day walkout prompted football owners to hire replacement players.)
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo, packing sustained winds up to 135 mph, crashed into Charleston, S.C. Twenty-one students in Alton, Texas, died when their school bus, involved in a collision with a soft-drink delivery truck, careened into a water-filled pit.
In 1996, John F. Kennedy Jr. married Carolyn Bessette. The board of Virginia Military Institute voted to admit women.
In 1998, President Bill Clinton's videotaped grand jury testimony was publicly broadcast. In it, Clinton sparred with prosecutors about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, at one point answering a question by saying, "It depends on what the meaning of 'is' is." Olympic gold medal track star Florence Griffith Joyner, 38, died in her sleep after suffering an epilectic seizure. Also in 1998, Hurricane Georges began its deadly rampage through the Caribbean, killing more than 600 people.
Ten years ago: The House Banking Committee opened an inquiry into allegations of a huge money-laundering scheme involving the Russian mob and the Bank of New York. A powerful earthquake struck Taiwan, killing at least 2,400 people.
In 2001, Congress approved $15 billion to help an airline industry reeling from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
In 2002, Angelo Buono Jr., the Hillside Strangler whose killings of young women terrorized Los Angeles in the 1970s, died in prison at age 67.
In 2003, NASA's Galileo spacecraft plunged into Jupiter's turbulent atmosphere, bringing a fiery conclusion to a 14-year exploration of the solar system's largest planet and its moons.
Five years ago: President George W. Bush, defending his decision to invade Iraq, urged the U.N. General Assembly to stand united with the country's struggling government. Yusuf Islam, formerly known as singer Cat Stevens, was taken off a London-to-Washington United Airlines flight because his name had shown up on a government "no-fly" list. The death toll in Haiti from deluges caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne topped 700.
In 2005, Texas coastal residents were ordered to evacuate, creating a mass exodus from the Houston and Galveston area as Hurricane Rita became the third-most intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic Basin. Top sustained winds were near 165 mph over the Gulf of Mexico.
One year ago: South African President Thabo Mbeki announced his resignation. The United States took back the Ryder Cup with a 16 1/2-11 1/2 victory over Europe. Baseball said farewell to the original Yankee Stadium as New York defeated Baltimore 7-3.
Today's Birthdays:
Actor Karl Slover ("The Wizard of Oz") is 91. Actor Larry Hagman is 78. Poet-songwriter Leonard Cohen is 75. Author-comedian Fannie Flagg is 65. Author Stephen King is 62. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is 62. Musician Don Felder is 62. Retired NBA All-Star Artis Gilmore is 60. Actor-comedian Bill Murray is 59. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye is 58. Rock musician Philthy Animal is 55. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is 52. Movie producer-writer Ethan Coen is 52. Actor-comedian Dave Coulier is 50. Actor David James Elliott is 49. Actress Serena Scott-Thomas is 48. Actress Nancy Travis is 48. Actor Rob Morrow is 47. Retired baseball All-Star Cecil Fielder is 46. Actress Cheryl Hines is 44. Country singer Faith Hill is 42. Rock musician Tyler Stewart (Barenaked Ladies) is 42. Country singer Ronna Reeves is 41. Actress-talk show host Ricki Lake is 41. Rapper Dave (De La Soul) is 41. Actor James Lesure is 38. Actor Alfonso Ribeiro is 38. Actor Luke Wilson is 38. Actor Paulo Costanzo is 31. TV personality Nicole Richie is 28. Actress Maggie Grace is 26. Actor Joseph Mazzello is 26.Today In Entertainment History September 21
In 1921, following the sex scandal caused by the arrest of comedian Fatty Arbuckle, Universal announced it would require its actors to sign a "morality clause" in their contracts.In 1948, Milton Berle made his debut as permanent host of "The Texaco Star Theater" on NBC television.
In 1957, the television series "Perry Mason," starring Raymond Burr, made its debut on CBS. Scotty Moore and Bill Black, from Elvis Presley's backup band, quit over a salary dispute with Colonel Tom Parker.
In 1962, the "Jack Paar Show" debuted on NBC. This show followed Paar's stint as host of the "Tonight" show.
In 1970, "NFL Monday Night Football" made its debut on ABC-TV. The Cleveland Browns defeated the visiting New York Jets, 31-21.
Thirty years ago, in 1979, the New York Post reported that The Beatles would reunite for a concert to benefit boat people. It never happened.
In 1986, the National Enquirer ran a photo of Michael Jackson lying in an oxygen chamber with the headline, "Michael Jackson's Bizarre Plan to Live to 150." Jackson later said he was simply lying in a chamber he had purchased for burn victims.
In 1992, 250 [sic] million households tuned in to "Murphy Brown" to see the show's rebuttal to Vice President Dan Quayle's family values speech. Quayle had criticized Murphy Brown for having a baby out of wedlock.
In 1996, model Christie Brinkley married architect Peter Cook in Bridgehampton, N.Y.
In 2001, celebrities including Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Neil Young, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey performed at a telethon to raise money for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. More than 30 networks broke from regular programming to carry the telethon. Within five days it had brought in $150 million in pledges.
In 2004, an airplane carrying Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, was diverted to Bangor, Maine, as it traveled from London to Washington. Federal authorities said Islam's name had appeared on a terrorist watch list.
One year ago, "Mad Men" became the first basic-cable show to win the top series Emmy; "30 Rock" and its stars Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin won comedy awards.
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