Today's Highlight in History:
On Nov. 1, 1968, the Motion Picture Association of America unveiled its new voluntary film rating system: G for general audiences, M for mature audiences (later changed to GP, then PG), R for restricted audiences, and X (later changed to NC-17) for adults only.
On this date:
In 1512, Michelangelo finished painting the ceiling of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.
In 1765, the Stamp Act went into effect, prompting stiff resistance from American colonists.
In 1861, Gen. George B. McClellan was made General-in-Chief of the Union armies, succeeding Winfield Scott.
In 1870, the United States Weather Bureau made its first meteorological observations.
In 1936, in a speech in Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini described the alliance between his country and Nazi Germany as an "axis" running between Rome and Berlin.
In 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to force their way into Blair House in Washington to assassinate President Truman. The attempt failed, and one of the pair was killed, along with a White House police officer.
In 1952, the United States exploded the first hydrogen bomb, codenamed "Ivy Mike," at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
In 1954, Algerian nationalists began their successful rebellion against French rule.
In 1973, following the "Saturday Night Massacre," Acting Attorney General Robert H. Bork appointed Leon Jaworski to be the new Watergate special prosecutor, succeeding Archibald Cox.
In 1979, former first lady Mamie Eisenhower died in Washington, D.C., at age 82.
Ten years ago: The military arm of the radical Islamic group Hamas made an unprecedented threat against Yasser Arafat, demanding the Palestinian leader halt a crackdown against it, or face violent vengeance. John Kagwe of Kenya won the New York City Marathon for the second straight year; Franca Fiacconi became the first Italian to win the women's division.
