This day in history

[June 08, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, June 8, the 159th day of 2010. There are 206 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War, 34 U.S. servicemen were killed when Israeli fighter jets and torpedo boats attacked the USS Liberty, a Navy intelligence-gathering ship stationed in the Mediterranean. (Israel later said the Liberty had been mistaken for an Egyptian vessel.)

On this date:

In A.D. 632, the prophet Muhammad died in Medina.

In 1845, Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, died in Nashville, Tenn.

In 1861, Tennessee seceded from the Union.

In 1864, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for another term as president during the National Union (Republican) Party's convention in Baltimore.

In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt offered to act as a mediator in the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1915, Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned in a disagreement with President Woodrow Wilson over U.S. handling of the sinking of the Lusitania.

In 1948, the "Texaco Star Theater" made its debut on NBC-TV with Milton Berle guest-hosting the first program. (Berle was later named the show's permanent host.)

In 1966, a merger was announced between the National and American Football leagues, to take effect in 1970.

In 1978, a jury in Clark County, Nev., ruled the so-called "Mormon will," purportedly written by the late billionaire Howard Hughes, was a forgery.

In 1995, U.S. Marines rescued Capt. Scott O'Grady, whose F-16C fighter jet had been shot down by Bosnian Serbs on June 2.

Ten years ago: Two gunmen shot to death Brig. Stephen Saunders, a British defense attache, in Athens, Greece; the elusive terrorist group November 17 claimed responsibility, saying it killed Saunders because of his role in NATO airstrikes against Yugoslavia. Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jeff MacNally died in Baltimore at age 52.

Five years ago: The Senate confirmed California judge Janice Rogers Brown for the federal appeals court, ending a two-year battle. Former Boston Bruins star Cam Neely, the late Valeri Kharlamov and Murray Costello were named to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

One year ago: North Korea's highest court sentenced American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee to 12 years' hard labor for trespassing and "hostile acts." (The women were pardoned in early August 2009 after a trip to Pyongyang by former President Bill Clinton.) Omar Bongo, 73, the world's longest-serving president who'd ruled Gabon for 42 years, died at a Spanish hospital.

Today's birthdays: Former First Lady Barbara Bush is 85. Actor-comedian Jerry Stiller is 83. Comedian Joan Rivers is 77. Actress Millicent Martin is 76. Actor James Darren is 74. Actor Bernie Casey is 71. Singer Nancy Sinatra is 70. Singer Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night) is 68. Musician Boz Scaggs is 66. Actor Don Grady is 66. Rock musician Mick Box (Uriah Heep) is 63. Author Sara Paretsky is 63. Actress Sonia Braga is 60. Actress Kathy Baker is 60. Country musician Tony Rice is 59. Actor Griffin Dunne is 55. "Dilbert" creator Scott Adams is 53. Actor-director Keenen Ivory Wayans is 52. Singer Mick Hucknall (Simply Red) is 50. Musician Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) is 48. Rhythm-and-blues singer Doris Pearson (Five Star) is 44. Actress Julianna Margulies is 43. Actor Dan Futterman is 43. Actor David Sutcliffe is 41. Rhythm-and-blues singer Nicci Gilbert is 40. Actress Kelli Williams is 40. Actor Mark Feuerstein is 39. Contemporary Christian musician Mike Scheuchzer (MercyMe) is 35. Rapper Kanye (KAHN'-yay) West is 33. Blues-rock musician Derek Trucks (The Derek Trucks Band) is 31. Folk-bluegrass singer-musician Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek) is 29.

Thought for today: "Malice drinks one-half of its own poison." -- Seneca, Roman statesman (circa 5 B.C.-A.D. 65)

[Associated Press]

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