Sixty years ago, on Oct. 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China during a ceremony in Beijing.
In 1800, Spain ceded Louisiana to France in a secret treaty.
In 1903, the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Boston Americans 7-3 in the first World Series game. (The Americans, forerunners of the Red Sox, won the best-of-nine series 5-3.)
In 1908, Henry Ford introduced his Model T automobile to the market; each car cost $825.
In 1924, William Rehnquist, the 16th chief justice of the United States, was born in Milwaukee, Wis.
In 1936, Gen. Francisco Franco was proclaimed the head of an insurgent Spanish state.
Seventy years ago, in 1939, Winston Churchill, recently appointed to the British War Cabinet by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, described Russia as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" during a radio address on the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
Sixty years ago, in 1949, a 42-day strike by the United Steelworkers of America began over the issue of retirement benefits.
In 1961, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit his 61st home run during a 162-game season, compared to Babe Ruth's 60 home runs during the 154-game 1927 season.
In 1964, the Free Speech Movement was launched at the University of California at Berkeley.
In 1971, Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Fla.
In 1974, former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell and four other Nixon administration officials went on trial on Watergate coverup charges.
Thirty years ago, in 1979, Nigeria's military rulers handed power to a civilian government. Pope John Paul II began his first trip to the United States.
In 1987, eight people were killed when an earthquake measuring magnitude 5.9 struck the Los Angeles area. [Nothing to speak of. Didn't even fall down. — Ed.]
In 1991, the United States suspended economic aid to Haiti and refused to recognize the military junta that ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
In 1992, Dallas billionaire Ross Perot announced his candidacy for the presidency. He called his group the Reform Party. A missile accidentally fired by the USS Saratoga struck a Turkish destroyer in the Aegean Sea, killing nine Turkish sailors.
In 1993, Polly Klaas, 12, was abducted from her Petaluma, Calif., home during a slumber party and murdered. (Her case inspired California's three-strikes law.)
In 1994, National Hockey League team owners began a 103-day lockout of their players.
In 1995, 10 Muslims were convicted of conspiring to conduct a terrorist campaign in the New York City area aimed at forcing the United States to drop its support of Egypt and Israel.
Ten years ago: South Korean activists thanked the US government for promising to investigate an Associated Press report that US forces had killed refugees at the start of the Korean War, but also demanded the US punish some of the veterans involved and compensate the victims' relatives.
In 2001, the Supreme Court suspended former President Bill Clinton from practicing before the high court. A Pakistan-based militant group attacked the state legislature in Indian-ruled Kashmir, killing 38 people.
Five years ago: Mount St. Helens in Washington state erupted for the first time in 18 years, but without nearly the force of the 1980 disaster. Police found Lori Hacking's body in a landfill after picking through the trash for weeks in a search for the young Utah woman murdered by her husband, Mark.
In 2005, a reported 36 people, mostly foreign tourists, died in explosions at two resort restaurants on the island of Bali. More than 100 others were reported injured.
In 2006, the Israeli army completed its withdrawal from Lebanon, clearing the way for a U.N. peacekeeping force. Brazilians voted for president following a campaign rife with corruption allegations against incumbent and favored Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
In 2007, Vladimir Putin, ineligible to seek another term as Russian president after eight years in the post, indicated to lawmakers his desire to become prime minister.
One year ago: Documents believed to belong to missing U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett were found in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Fossett, who set several world aviation records, vanished about a year earlier on a flight from a Nevada ranch. The U.S. Senate voted to end the ban on trading nuclear fuel with India, a move that allows India to buy nuclear fuel on the world market for civilian purposes. After one spectacular failure in the House, the $700 billion financial industry bailout won lopsided passage in the Senate, 74-25, after it was loaded with tax breaks and other sweeteners.
Today's Birthdays October 1: Former President Jimmy Carter is 85. Pianist Roger Williams is 85. Actor Tom Bosley is 82. Actress-singer Julie Andrews is 74. Actress Stella Stevens is 71. Rock musician Jerry Martini (Sly and the Family Stone) is 66. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew is 64. Jazz musician Dave Holland is 63. Actor Stephen Collins is 62. Actor Randy Quaid is 59. Marathon runner Grete Waitz is 56. Retired MLB All-Star Jeff Reardon is 54. Rhythm-and-blues singer Howard Hewett is 54. Actress Yvette Freeman is 52. Alt-country-rock musician Tim O'Reagan (The Jayhawks) is 51. Singer Youssou N'Dour is 50. Actor Esai Morales is 47. Retired MLB All-Star Mark McGwire is 46. Actor Christopher Titus is 45. Actress-model Cindy Margolis is 44. [Remember when she was "The Most-Viewed Woman on the Internet?" — Ed.] Rock singer-musician Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) is 41. Actor Zach Galifianakis is 40. Singer Keith Duffy is 35. NFL player Ryan Pontbriand is 30.
Today In Entertainment History October 1:
In 1962, Johnny Carson took over as regular host of NBC's "Tonight" show, succeeding Jack Paar. He retired in 1992 after a 29-year reign on late-night television.
In 1967, Pink Floyd arrived in the US for their first American tour, a month after their debut album, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," was released.
In 1968, the cult horror movie "Night of the Living Dead" had its world premiere in Pittsburgh, where it was filmed.
In 1970, Jimi Hendrix was buried in his hometown of Seattle. Singer Curtis Mayfield left The Impressions to go solo.
In 1975, an intruder shot and killed Al Jackson, drummer for Booker T. and the MGs, at his home in Memphis. The group was planning a reunion at the time of Jackson's death.
In 1977, Elton John became the first rock star to be honored in New York City's Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame.
In 1998, the president of the Philippines banned actress Claire Danes from entering the country. Filipinos were angry that in an interview, Danes had called Manila smelly, weird and full of rats.
In 2003, actress Halle Berry and musician Eric Benet announced they were separating. They had been married less than three years.
In 2004, fashion photographer Richard Avedon died in San Antonio, Texas, at age 81.
In 2008, Nick Reynolds, a founding member of the Kingston Trio, died in San Diego at age 75. TV actor House Peters Jr., the original "Mr. Clean," died in Los Angeles at age 92.
Thought for Today: "Just think of the tragedy of teaching children not to doubt." — Clarence Darrow, American lawyer (1857-1938).
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