This day in history

[May 26, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, May 26, the 146th day of 2009. There are 219 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On May 26, 1940, the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, began during World War II.

On this date:

In 1521, Martin Luther was banned by the Edict of Worms because of his religious beliefs and writings.

In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson ended with his acquittal on the remaining charges.

In 1908, the first major oil strike in the Middle East occurred in Masjid-i-Suleiman, Persia (present-day Iran).

In 1913, Actors' Equity Association was organized in New York.

In 1938, the House Un-American Activities Committee was established by Congress.

In 1960, U.N. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge accused the Soviets of hiding a microphone inside a wood carving of the Great Seal of the United States that had been presented to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

In 1969, the Apollo 10 astronauts returned to Earth after a successful eight-day dress rehearsal for the first manned moon landing.

In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in Moscow. (The U.S. withdrew from the treaty in 2002.)

In 1981, 14 people were killed when a Marine jet crashed onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off Florida.

In 1994, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married in the Dominican Republic. (They divorced in 1996.)

Ten years ago: House Republicans pushed through legislation that would put new obstacles in the way of spending government surpluses that came from Social Security taxes. Indian aircraft fired on separatist guerrillas in Kashmir province and Pakistan threatened retaliation; it was the first use of air power in years in the long-running conflict over the Himalayan border region.

Five years ago: Nearly a decade after the Oklahoma City bombing, Terry Nichols was found guilty of 161 state murder charges for helping carry out the attack. (Nichols later received 161 consecutive life sentences.) Fantasia Barrino was crowned the "American Idol" in the Fox TV talent contest.

One year ago: President George W. Bush paid a Memorial Day tribute to America's fighting men and women who died in battle, saying national leaders must have "the courage and character to follow their lead" in preserving peace and freedom. Chinese officials said they would waive their one-child policy for families with a child who was killed, severely injured or disabled in the country's devastating earthquake. Oscar-winning movie director Sydney Pollack died in Los Angeles at age 73. Composer Earle H. Hagen, who wrote the themes for "The Andy Griffith Show," "I Spy," "The Mod Squad" and other TV shows, died in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 88.

Today's birthdays: Actor James Arness is 86. Actor Alec McCowen is 84. Sportscaster Brent Musberger is 70. Rock singer-musician Levon Helm (The Band) is 69. Country musician Gates Nichols (Confederate Railroad) is 65. Rock musician Garry Peterson (Guess Who) is 64. Singer Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac) is 61. Actress Pam Grier is 60. Actor Philip Michael Thomas is 60. Country singer Hank Williams Jr. is 60. Former astronaut Sally K. Ride is 58. Actress Margaret Colin is 52. Country singer-songwriter Dave Robbins is 50. Actor Doug Hutchison is 49. Actress Genie Francis is 47. Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait is 47. Singer Lenny Kravitz is 45. Actress Helena Bonham Carter is 43. Rock musician Phillip Rhodes is 41. Actor Joseph Fiennes is 39. Singer Joey Kibble (Take 6) is 38. Actor-producer-writer Matt Stone is 38. Contemporary Christian musician Nathan Cochran is 31.

Thought for today: "Life is a tragedy full of joy." -- Bernard Malamud, American author (1914-1986)

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.