This day in history

[September 09, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, Sept. 9, the 252nd day of 2009. There are 113 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Sept. 9, 1776, the second Continental Congress made the term "United States" official, replacing "United Colonies."

On this date:

In 1830, Charles Durant flew a balloon from New York City across the Hudson River to Perth Amboy, N.J.

In 1850, California became the 31st state of the union.

In 1893, Frances Cleveland, wife of President Grover Cleveland, gave birth to a daughter, Esther, in the White House; it was the first time a president's child was born in the executive mansion.

In 1919, some 1,100 members of Boston's 1,500-man police force went on strike, plunging the city into chaos. (The strike was broken by Massachusetts Gov. Calvin Coolidge, who brought in replacement officers.)

In 1926, the National Broadcasting Co. (NBC) was incorporated by the Radio Corp. of America.

In 1948, the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was declared.

In 1956, Elvis Presley made the first of three appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the first civil rights bill to pass Congress since Reconstruction.

In 1971, prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, N.Y., beginning a siege that ended up claiming 43 lives.

In 1976, Communist Chinese leader Mao Zedong died in Beijing at age 82.

Ten years ago: Former Republican Sen. John Danforth opened an independent inquiry into the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas. A massive explosion tore apart a Moscow apartment building, killing about a hundred people. Israel released 199 Palestinian security prisoners as part of a new peace deal. Baseball Hall-of-Fame pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter died in Hertford, N.C., at age 53. Actress Ruth Roman died in Laguna Beach, Calif., at age 76.

Five years ago: Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that abuses by government-supported Arab militias in Sudan qualified as genocide against the black African population in the Darfur region. A powerful car bomb exploded outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, killing 10 people.

One year ago: President George W. Bush announced he would keep U.S. force strength in Iraq largely intact until the next administration, drawing rebukes from Democrats who wanted the war ended and a bigger boost of troops in troubled Afghanistan. Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto, took office as Pakistan's president.

Today's birthdays: Actor Cliff Robertson is 86. Actor Topol is 74. R&B singer Luther Simmons is 67. Singer Inez Foxx is 67. Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 64. Rock singer-musician Doug Ingle is 63. Country singer Freddy Weller is 62. College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL player Joe Theismann is 60. Actor Tom Wopat is 58. Actress Angela Cartwright is 57. Musician-producer Dave Stewart is 57. Actor Hugh Grant is 49. Actor Adam Sandler is 43. Actor David Bennent is 43. Rock singer Paul Durham (Black Lab) is 41. Model Rachel Hunter is 40. Actor Goran Visnjic is 37. Pop-jazz singer Michael Buble is 34. Latin singer Maria Rita is 32. Actress Michelle Williams is 29.

Thought for today: "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal." -- Hannah More, English author and social reformer (1745-1833)

[Associated Press]

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