This day in history

[August 08, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Monday, Aug. 8, the 220th day of 2011. There are 145 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Aug. 8, 1911, President William Howard Taft signed a measure raising the number of members in the U.S. House of Representatives from 391 to 433, effective with the next Congress, with a proviso to add two more members when New Mexico and Arizona became states. (The number of House seats has remained at 435 ever since, except for a temporary increase to 437 after Alaska and Hawaii were admitted to the Union.)

On this date:

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena to spend the remainder of his days in exile.

In 1861, biologist William Bateson, founder of the science of genetics, was born in Whitby, Yorkshire, England.

In 1942, six convicted Nazi saboteurs who'd landed in the U.S. were executed in Washington, D.C.; two others were spared.

In 1953, the United States and South Korea initialed a mutual security pact.

In 1963, Britain's "Great Train Robbery" took place as thieves made off with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes.

In 1968, the Republican national convention in Miami Beach nominated Richard Nixon for president on the first ballot.

In 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew branded as "damned lies" reports he had taken kickbacks from government contracts in Maryland, and vowed not to resign -- which he ended up doing.

In 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation, effective the next day, following damaging new revelations in the Watergate scandal.

In 1978, the U.S. launched Pioneer Venus 2, which carried scientific probes to study the atmosphere of Venus.

In 1994, Israel and Jordan opened the first road link between the two once-warring countries.

Ten years ago: Former President Ronald Reagan's daughter Maureen died in Granite Bay, Calif., at age 60. Mohammad Khatami was sworn in for a second term as Iran's president.

Five years ago: Sen. Joe Lieberman lost the Connecticut Democratic primary to political newcomer Ned Lamont (however, Lieberman ended up winning re-election to the Senate by running as an independent). The Federal Reserve left a benchmark interest rate unchanged after 17 consecutive rate hikes over more than two years. Roger Goodell was chosen as the NFL's next commissioner.

One year ago: Flooding in Gansu province in China resulted in mudslides that killed more than 1,400 people. Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal died in Edgartown, Mass., at 84.

Today's birthdays: Actress Esther Williams is 90. Actor Richard Anderson is 85. Joan Mondale, wife of former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, is 81. Actress Nita Talbot is 81. Singer Mel Tillis is 79. Actor Dustin Hoffman is 74. Actress Connie Stevens is 73. Country singer Phil Balsley (The Statler Brothers) is 72. Actor Larry Wilcox is 64. Actor Keith Carradine is 62. Rhythm-and-blues singer Airrion Love (The Stylistics) is 62. Country singer Jamie O'Hara is 61. Movie director Martin Brest is 60. Radio-TV personality Robin Quivers is 59. Actor Donny Most is 58. Rock musician Dennis Drew (10,000 Maniacs) is 54. TV personality Deborah Norville is 53. Actor-singer Harry Crosby is 53. Rock musician The Edge (U2) is 50. Rock musician Rikki Rockett (Poison) is 50. Rapper Kool Moe Dee is 49. Rock musician Ralph Rieckermann is 49. Middle distance runner Suzy Favor-Hamilton is 43. Rock singer Scott Stapp is 38. Country singer Mark Wills is 38. Actor Kohl Sudduth is 37. Rock musician Tom Linton (Jimmy Eat World) is 36. Singer JC Chasez ('N Sync) is 35. Actress Tawny Cypress is 35. Rhythm-and-blues singer Drew Lachey (lah-SHAY') (98 Degrees) is 35. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marsha Ambrosius is 34. Actress Lindsay Sloane is 34. Actress Countess Vaughn is 33. Actor Michael Urie is 31. Tennis player Roger Federer is 30. Actress Meagan Good is 30. Britain's Princess Beatrice of York is 23. Actor Ken Baumann (TV: "The Secret Life of the American Teenager") is 22.

Thought for today: "Man adjusts to what he should not; he is unable to adjust to what he should." -- Jean Toomer, African-American author-poet (1894-1967)

[Associated Press]

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