This day in history

[October 05, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, Oct. 5, the 278th day of 2010. There are 87 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Oct. 5, 1910, Portugal was proclaimed a republic following the abdication of King Manuel II in the face of a coup d'etat.

On this date:

In 1829, the 21st president of the United States, Chester Alan Arthur, was born in Fairfield, Vt. (Some sources list 1830.)

In 1892, the Dalton Gang, notorious for its train robberies, was practically wiped out while attempting to rob a pair of banks in Coffeyville, Kan.

In 1921, the World Series was covered live on radio for the first time as Newark, N.J. station WJZ relayed reports from the Polo Grounds, where the New York Giants were facing the New York Yankees. (Although the Yankees won the opener, 3-0, the Giants won the series, 5 games to 3.)

In 1931, Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon completed the first non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean, arriving in Washington state some 41 hours after leaving Japan.

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman delivered the first televised White House address as he spoke on the world food crisis.

In 1953, Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th chief justice of the United States, succeeding Fred M. Vinson.

In 1962, the Beatles' first hit recording, "Love Me Do," was originally released in the United Kingdom.

In 1970, British trade commissioner James Richard Cross was kidnapped in Canada by militant Quebec separatists; he was released the following December.

In 1988, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen lambasted Republican Dan Quayle during their vice-presidential debate, telling Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

In 1990, a jury in Cincinnati acquitted an art gallery and its director of obscenity charges stemming from an exhibit of sexually graphic photographs by the late Robert Mapplethorpe.

Ten years ago: In the only debate of presidential running mates during the 2000 campaign, Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joseph Lieberman disagreed firmly but politely about military readiness, tax cuts and the future of Social Security.

Five years ago: Defying the White House, senators voted 90-9 to approve an amendment that would prohibit the use of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" against anyone in U.S. government custody. Americans Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock and Frenchman Yves Chauvin won the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Daniel Alfredsson scored twice in the final six minutes of regulation and once during the first shootout in NHL history, leading Ottawa to a 3-2 win over Toronto.

One year ago: President Barack Obama filled the Rose Garden with doctors supportive of his health care overhaul, saying "nobody has more credibility with the American people on this issue than you do." Americans Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak won the 2009 Nobel Prize in medicine. A suicide bomber blew himself up in the lobby of the U.N. food agency in Islamabad, killing five staffers.

Today's birthdays: "Family Circus" cartoonist Bil (cq) Keane is 88. Actress Glynis Johns is 87. Comedian Bill Dana is 86. Actress Diane Cilento is 77. The former president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel (VAHTS'-lah HAH'-vul), is 74. College Football Hall of Fame coach Barry Switzer is 73. Rhythm-and-blues singer Arlene Smith (The Chantels) is 69. Singer Richard Street is 68. Singer-musician Steve Miller is 67. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) is 67. Rock singer Brian Johnson (AC/DC) is 63. Actor Jeff Conaway is 60. Actress Karen Allen is 59. Writer-producer-director Clive Barker is 58. Rock musician David Bryson (Counting Crows) is 56. Rock singer and famine-relief organizer Bob Geldof is 56. Architect Maya Lin is 51. Actor Daniel Baldwin is 50. Rock singer-musician Dave Dederer is 46. Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux is 45. Actor Guy Pearce is 43. Actress Josie Bissett is 40. Singer-actress Heather Headley is 36. Pop-rock singer Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) is 36. Rock musician Brian Mashburn (Save Ferris) is 35. Actress Parminder Nagra (par-MIHN'-da NAH'grah) is 35. Actor Scott Weinger is 35. Actress Kate Winslet is 35. Rock musician James Valentine (Maroon 5) is 32. Rock musician Paul Thomas (Good Charlotte) is 30. TV personality Nicky Hilton is 27. Rhythm-and-blues singer Brooke Valentine is 25. Actor Joshua Logan Moore (TV: "Desperate Housewives") is 16.

Thought for today: "The usefulness of a meeting is in inverse proportion to the attendance." -- Lane Kirkland, American labor leader (1922-1999)

[Associated Press]

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