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 Today's
highlight in history:
On June 9, A.D. 68, the Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide.
On this date:
In 1870, author Charles Dickens died in Gad's Hill Place, England.
In 1940, during World War II, Norway decided to surrender to the Nazis, effective at midnight.
In 1953, 94 people died when a tornado struck Worcester, Mass.
In 1954, during the Senate-Army Hearings, Army special counsel Joseph N. Welch berated Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, asking: "Have you no sense of decency, sir?"
In 1969, the U.S. Senate confirmed Warren Burger to be the new chief justice of the United States, succeeding Earl Warren.
In 1973, Secretariat became horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 25 years by winning the Belmont Stakes.
In 1978, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints struck down a 148-year-old policy of excluding black men from the Mormon priesthood.
In 1980, comedian Richard Pryor suffered almost fatal burns at his San Fernando Valley, Calif., home when a mixture of "free-base" cocaine exploded.
In 1985, American educator Thomas Sutherland was kidnapped in Lebanon; he was released in November 1991 along with fellow hostage Terry Waite.
In 1986, the Rogers Commission released its report on the Challenger disaster, criticizing NASA and rocket-builder Morton Thiokol for management problems leading to the explosion that claimed the lives of seven astronauts.
Ten years ago: Three white men were charged in Jasper, Texas, with the brutal dragging death of James Byrd Jr., a black man. President Clinton unleashed a torrent of public works money, signing a $203 billion transportation bill.
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Five years ago: As rebels bore down on the capital of Liberia, French helicopters rescued more than 500 Americans, Europeans and other foreigners. The New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Anaheim Mighty Ducks 3-0 in Game 7.
One year ago: President Bush, denounced by anti-American protesters on the streets of Rome, defended his humanitarian record as he met at the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI, who expressed concern about "the worrisome situation in Iraq." A day after being ordered back to jail, Paris Hilton said she wouldn't appeal her sentence for a probation violation. Rags to Riches became the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes since 1905. Justine Henin claimed her third consecutive French Open title with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ana Ivanovic.
Today's birthdays: Guitarist-inventor Les Paul is 93. Former World Bank president and former defense secretary Robert S. McNamara is 92. Actress Mona Freeman is 82. Media analyst Marvin Kalb is 78. Sports commentator Dick Vitale is 69. Author Letty Cottin Pogrebin is 69. Rock musician Jon Lord is 67. Mystery author Patricia Cornwell is 52. Actor Michael J. Fox is 47. Writer-producer Aaron Sorkin is 47. Actor Johnny Depp is 45. Jazz musician Wayman Tisdale is 44. Actress Gloria Reuben is 44. Rock musician Dean Felber (Hootie & the Blowfish) is 41. Rock musician Dean Dinning is 41. Musician Ed Simons is 38. Country musician Shade Deggs (Cole Deggs and the Lonesome) is 34. Actress Michaela Conlin (TV: "Bones") is 30. Actress Natalie Portman is 27. Actress Mae Whitman is 20.
Thought for today: "History is a romance that is believed; romance, a history that is not believed."
-- Horace Walpole, English author (1717-1797)
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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