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 Today's highlight in history:
On Oct. 11, 1776, the naval Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain took place during the American Revolution. American forces led by Gen. Benedict Arnold suffered heavy losses, but managed to stall the British.
On this date:
In 1779, Polish nobleman Casimir Pulaski, fighting for American independence, died two days after being mortally wounded during the Revolutionary War Battle of Savannah, Ga.
In 1890, the Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in Washington, D.C.
In 1932, the first American political telecast took place as the Democratic National Committee sponsored a program from a CBS television studio in New York.
In 1942, the World War II Battle of Cape Esperance began in the Solomon Islands, resulting in an American victory over the Japanese.
In 1958, the lunar probe Pioneer 1 was launched; it failed to go as far out as planned, fell back to Earth, and burned up in the atmosphere.
In 1962, Pope John XXIII convened the first session of the Roman Catholic Church's Second Ecumenical Council, also known as Vatican II.
In 1968, Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission, was launched with astronauts Wally Schirra, Donn Fulton Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard.
In 1975, "NBC Saturday Night" (later "Saturday Night Live") made its debut with guest host George Carlin.
In 1984, space shuttle Challenger astronaut Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space.
In 1991, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, law professor Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexually harassing her; Thomas reappeared before the panel to denounce the proceedings as a "high-tech lynching."
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 Ten years ago: President Clinton blamed pop culture for glamorizing illegal drug use as he heralded a new $195 million anti-drug ad campaign during his weekly radio address. Retired Associated Press chief Wes Gallagher died in Santa Barbara, Calif., at age 86.
Five years ago: The Senate joined the House in approving, 77-23, use of America's military might against Iraq. Former President Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize. Kenneth H. Bridges was shot to death at a gas station near Fredericksburg, Va., in the latest slaying by the Washington-area sniper. A chain reaction crash on a foggy interstate near Cedar Grove, Wis., killed ten people and injured 40 others. A teenager set off a homemade bomb inside a crowded mall in Vantaa, Finland, killing himself and six others.
One year ago: A plane carrying New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and flight instructor Tyler Stanger crashed into a high-rise apartment building in New York City, killing both men. The charge of treason was used for the first time in the U.S. war on terrorism, filed against Adam Yehiye Gadahn, who'd appeared in propaganda videos for al-Qaida.
Today's birthdays: Author Elmore Leonard is 82. Actor Earle Hyman is 81. Actor Ron Leibman is 70. Country singer Gene Watson is 64. Singer-musician Daryl Hall is 58. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., is 57. Rhythm-and-blues musician Andrew Woolfolk is 57. Actress-director Catlin Adams is 57. Actor David Morse is 54. Country singer Paulette Carlson is 54. Actor Stephen Spinella is 51. Football Hall of Fame player Steve Young is 46. Actress Joan Cusack is 45. Rock musician Scott Johnson (Gin Blossoms) is 45. Comedy writer and TV host Michael J. Nelson is 43. Actor Sean Patrick Flanery is 42. Actor Luke Perry is 41. Country singer-songwriter Todd Snider is 41. Actress Jane Krakowski is 39. Rapper U-God (Wu-Tang Clan) is 37. Rapper MC Lyte is 36. Singer NeeNa Lee is 32. Actress Emily Deschanel is 31. Actress Michelle Trachtenberg is 22. Golfer Michelle Wie is 18.
Thought for today: "In America, an hour is 40 minutes." -- German saying.
[Associated
Press]
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