This day in history

[February 11, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, Feb. 11, the 42nd day of 2010. There are 323 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Feb. 11, 1960, "Tonight Show" host Jack Paar stunned his audience by walking off the program in a dispute with NBC over its decision to censor an anecdote he'd quoted the night before having to do with a misunderstanding over the British term "W.C." (short for "water closet," or bathroom). Despite his very public resignation, Paar returned to the Tonight Show less than a month later.

On this date:

In 1812, Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a re-districting law favoring his party -- giving rise to the term "gerrymandering."

In 1858, a French girl, Bernadette Soubirous (soo-bee-ROO'), reported the first of 18 visions of a lady dressed in white in a grotto near Lourdes. (The Catholic Church later accepted that the visions were of the Virgin Mary.)

In 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln departed Springfield, Ill. for Washington.

In 1929, the Lateran Treaty was signed, with Italy recognizing the independence and sovereignty of Vatican City.

In 1937, a six-week-old sit-down strike against General Motors ended, with the company agreeing to recognize the United Automobile Workers Union.

In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin signed the Yalta Agreement during World War II.

In 1975, Margaret Thatcher was elected leader of Britain's opposition Conservative Party.

In 1979, followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (hoh-MAY'-nee) seized power in Iran.

In 1989, Reverend Barbara C. Harris became the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church, in a ceremony held in Boston.

In 1990, South African black activist Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in captivity.

Ten years ago: The space shuttle Endeavour thundered away from Cape Canaveral on a mission to map the world as never before. Britain stripped Northern Ireland's Protestant-Catholic government of power in a bid to prevent its collapse over the IRA's refusal to disarm. French movie director Roger Vadim (roh-ZHAY' vah-DEEM') died in Paris at age 72.

Five years ago: Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld made an unannounced visit to Iraq, where he observed Iraqi security forces and declared "there's no question progress has been made" in preparing the nation for building a new government. CNN chief news executive Eason Jordan quit amid a furor over remarks he'd made about journalists being targeted by the U.S. military in Iraq. Samuel W. Alderson, inventor of crash test dummies, died in Marina Del Rey, Calif. at age 90.

One year ago: The nation's top bankers went before the House Financial Services Committee, pledging to build public trust with greater lending and fewer perks. Stewart Parnell, owner of Peanut Corp. of America, repeatedly invoked his right not to incriminate himself at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on a salmonella outbreak that had sickened hundreds. All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about steroids in baseball. (He was sentenced to a year's probation.) Congressman John Dingell of Michigan became the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives. President Robert Mugabe (moo-GAH'-bay) swore in longtime rival Morgan Tsvangirai (SVAHNG'-ur-eye) as Zimbabwe's prime minister. Estelle Bennett, 67, one of the singing trio Ronettes, was found dead in her home in Englewood, N.J.

Today's birthdays: Actor Leslie Nielsen is 84. Actor Conrad Janis is 82. Actress Tina Louise is 76. Actor Burt Reynolds is 74. Songwriter Gerry Goffin is 71. Actor Sonny Landham is 69. Bandleader Sergio Mendes is 69. Rhythm-and-blues singer Otis Clay is 68. Actor Philip Anglim is 58. Actress Catherine Hickland is 54. Rock musician David Uosikkinen (aw-SIK'-ken-ihn) (The Hooters) is 54. Actress Carey Lowell is 49. Singer Sheryl Crow is 48. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is 46. Actress Jennifer Aniston is 41. Actor Damian Lewis is 39. Actress Marisa Petroro is 38. Singer D'Angelo is 36. Actor Brice Beckham is 34. Rock M-C/vocalist Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) is 33. Singer-actress Brandy is 31. Actor Matthew Lawrence is 30. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kelly Rowland is 29. Actress Q'orianka (kohr-ee-AHN'-kuh) Kilcher is 20. Actor Taylor Lautner is 18.

Thought for today: "What we respect we always do, but what we do not respect we ignore." -- Plato, Greek philosopher ( ? -c. 347 B.C.).

[Associated Press]

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