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Today's highlight in history:
Fifty years ago, on July 29, 1958, President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which created NASA.
On this date:
In 1588, the English attacked the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Gravelines, resulting in an English victory.
In 1890, artist Vincent van Gogh, 37, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Auvers-sur-Oise, France.
In 1900, Italian King Humbert I was assassinated by an anarchist; he was succeeded by his son, Victor Emmanuel III.
In 1914, transcontinental telephone service began with the first test phone conversation between New York and San Francisco.
In 1948, Britain's King George VI opened the Olympic Games in London.
In 1957, the International Atomic Energy Agency was established.
In 1957, Jack Paar made his debut as host of NBC's "Tonight Show."
In 1967, an accidental rocket launch aboard the supercarrier USS Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin resulted in a fire and explosions that killed 134 servicemen.
In 1968, the Vatican issued an encyclical in which Pope Paul VI reaffirmed the Catholic Church's opposition to artificial means of contraception.
In 1981, Britain's Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. (However, the couple divorced in 1996.)
Ten years ago: President Clinton reached an agreement with Kenneth Starr to provide grand jury testimony via closed-circuit television in the Monica Lewinsky case. Jerome Robbins, one of modern ballet's master choreographers and one of Broadway's major innovators, died in New York at age 79.
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 Five years ago: President Bush refused to release a congressional report on possible links between Saudi Arabian officials and the Sept. 11 hijackers, saying disclosure "would help the enemy" by revealing intelligence sources and methods. Boston's Bill Mueller became the first player in major league history to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in a game and connected for three homers in a 14-7 win at Texas.
One year ago: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrived at Camp David in Maryland for a private dinner as well as meetings with President Bush. Tens of thousands of Iraqis celebrated after Iraq beat three-time champion Saudi Arabia 1-0 to take the Asian Cup. Alberto Contador of Spain won the doping-scarred Tour de France. Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn took their place in the Baseball Hall of Fame. TV talk show host and newsman Tom Snyder died in San Francisco at age 71. French actor Michel Serrault died in Honfleur, France, at age 79.
Today's birthdays: Comedian Professor Irwin Corey is 94. Actor Robert Horton is 84. Former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum-Baker, R-Kan., is 76. Actor Robert Fuller is 74. Sen. Elizabeth H. Dole, R-N.C., is 72. Actor David Warner is 67. Rock musician Neal Doughty (REO Speedwagon) is 62. Marilyn Tucker Quayle, wife of former Vice President Dan Quayle, is 59. Actor Mike Starr is 58. Documentary maker Ken Burns is 55. Style guru Tim Gunn (TV: "Project Runway") is 55. Rock singer-musician Geddy Lee (Rush) is 55. Rock singer Patti Scialfa (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) is 55. Actress Alexandra Paul is 45. Country singer Martina McBride is 42. Rock musician Chris Gorman is 41. Actor Rodney Allen Rippy is 40. Actor Wil Wheaton is 36. Rhythm-and-blues singer Wanya Morris (Boyz II Men) is 35. Actor Stephen Dorff is 35. Actor Josh Radnor is 34. Hip-hop DJ/music producer Danger Mouse is 31. Actress Allison Mack is 26.
Thought for today: "Man must rise above the Earth -- to the top of the atmosphere and beyond
-- for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives."
-- Socrates, Greek philosopher (469 B.C.-399 B.C.)
[Associated Press]
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