This day in history

[October 16, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Saturday, Oct. 16th, the 289th day of 2010. There are 76 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Oct. 16, 1859, radical abolitionist John Brown led a group of 21 men in a raid on Harpers Ferry in western Virginia. (Ten of Brown's men were killed and five escaped. Brown and six followers ended up being captured; all were executed.)

On this date:

In 1793, during the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, was beheaded.

In 1901, Booker T. Washington dined at the White House as the guest of President Theodore Roosevelt, whose invitation to the black educator sparked controversy.

In 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic, in Brooklyn, N.Y. (The clinic ended up being raided by police and Sanger was arrested.)

In 1939, the comedy "The Man Who Came to Dinner," by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, opened on Broadway.

In 1962, the Cuban missile crisis began as President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the presence of missile bases in Cuba.

In 1968, American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos sparked controversy at the Mexico City Olympics by giving "black power" salutes during a victory ceremony after they'd won gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter race.

In 1969, the New York Mets capped their miracle season by winning the World Series, defeating the Baltimore Orioles, 5-3, in Game 5 played at Shea Stadium.

In 1978, the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church chose Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (voy-TEE'-wah) to be the new pope; he took the name John Paul II.

In 1987, a 58-1/2-hour drama in Midland, Texas, ended happily as rescuers freed Jessica McClure, an 18-month-old girl trapped in an abandoned well.

In 1995, a vast throng of black men gathered in Washington D.C. for the "Million Man March" led by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton launched a fresh effort to try to cool Middle East tensions at an emergency summit in Egypt that included Israeli and Palestinian leaders, as well as the leaders of Egypt and Jordan and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan and his son were killed in a plane crash south of St. Louis while en route to a rally for Carnahan's U.S. Senate campaign. The New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-0 to win the National League championship series, four games to one.

Five years ago: Polish television broadcast a recorded interview with Pope Benedict XVI, who said that he planned to visit Poland, the homeland of his predecessor, John Paul II (it's believed to be the first TV interview with a pope). The Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 to win the American League Championship Series in five games, their first pennant since 1959. Elmer "Len" Dresslar Jr., the booming voice of the Jolly Green Giant, died at age 80.

One year ago: The government reported that the federal budget deficit for the just-ended fiscal year totaled an all-time high of $1.42 trillion. Pigs in Minnesota tested positive for the H1N1 virus, the first U.S. cases in swine.

Today's birthdays: Actress Angela Lansbury is 85. Author Gunter Grass is 83. Former presidential adviser Charles W. Colson is 79. Actor-producer Tony Anthony is 73. Actor Barry Corbin is 70. Sportscaster Tim McCarver is 69. Rock musician C.F. Turner (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) is 67. Actress Suzanne Somers is 64. Rock singer-musician Bob Weir is 63. Producer-director David Zucker is 63. Record company executive Jim Ed Norman is 62. Actor Daniel Gerroll is 59. Actor Morgan Stevens is 59. Comedian-actor Andy Kindler is 54. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 52. Actor-musician Gary Kemp is 51. Singer-musician Bob Mould is 50. Actor Randy Vasquez is 49. Rock musician Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 48. Actor Todd Stashwick is 42. Jazz musician Roy Hargrove is 41. Actress Terri J. Vaughn is 41. Singer Wendy Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 41. Rapper B-Rock (B-Rock and the Bizz) is 39. Rock singer Chad Gray (Mudvayne) is 39. Actress Kellie Martin is 35. Singer John Mayer is 33. Actor Jeremy Jackson is 30. Actress Brea Grant (TV: "Heroes") is 29.

Thought for today: "Life is a solitary cell whose walls are mirrors." -- Eugene O'Neill, American playwright (born this date in 1888, died 1953)

[Associated Press]

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