This day in history

[November 18, 2008]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, Nov. 18, the 323rd day of 2008. There are 43 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Nov. 18, 1928, Walt Disney's first sound-synchronized animated cartoon, "Steamboat Willie" starring Mickey Mouse, premiered in New York.

On this date:

In 1883, the United States and Canada adopted a system of Standard Time zones.

In 1886, the 21st president of the United States, Chester A. Arthur, died in New York.

In 1908, actress-comedian Imogene Coca was born in Philadelphia.

In 1936, Germany and Italy recognized the Spanish government of Francisco Franco.

In 1958, the cargo freighter SS Carl D. Bradley sank during a storm in Lake Michigan, claiming 33 of the 35 lives on board.

In 1966, U.S. Roman Catholic bishops did away with the rule against eating meat on Fridays outside of Lent.

In 1978, U.S. Rep. Leo J. Ryan, D-Calif., and four other people were killed in Jonestown, Guyana, by members of the Peoples Temple; the killings were followed by a night of mass murder and suicide by more than 900 cult members.

In 1987, the congressional Iran-Contra committees issued their final report, saying President Reagan bore "ultimate responsibility" for wrongdoing by his aides.

In 1988, President Reagan signed legislation creating a Cabinet-level drug czar and providing the death penalty for drug traffickers who kill.

In 1999, 12 people were killed when a 59-foot stack of logs under construction for a bonfire at Texas A&M University collapsed.

Ten years ago: House Republicans endorsed U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston of Louisiana to be their next speaker, succeeding Newt Gingrich. (However, Livingston later resigned from the House before he could take over the speakership, after admitting to marital infidelities.)

Five years ago: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled, 4-3, that the state constitution guaranteed gay couples the right to marry. President Bush and his wife, Laura, arrived in Britain for a state visit. The U.N. refugee agency began pulling foreign staff out of Afghanistan after the killing of a French worker. A judge in Modesto, Calif., ordered Scott Peterson to stand trial for the killing of his wife, Laci, and their unborn son. (Peterson was later convicted and sentenced to death.) Barry Bonds won his record sixth National League MVP award.

One year ago: President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's government dismissed a last-ditch U.S. call to end emergency rule, a day after a visit by Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte. A methane blast ripped through a coal mine in eastern Ukraine, killing 101 miners. Chris Daughtry's band won favorite pop-rock album for "Daughtry," as well as breakthrough artist and adult contemporary artist at the American Music Awards. MTV Arabia, an Arab version of the pop-culture channel, began broadcasting.

Today's birthdays: Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, is 85. Actor Brad Sullivan is 77. Actress Brenda Vaccaro is 69. Actress Linda Evans is 66. Country singer Jacky Ward is 62. Actor Jameson Parker is 61. Actress-singer Andrea Marcovicci is 60. Rock musician Herman Rarebell is 59. Singer Graham Parker is 58. Actor Delroy Lindo is 56. Comedian Kevin Nealon is 55. Actor Oscar Nunez is 50. Actress Elizabeth Perkins is 48. Singer Kim Wilde is 48. Rock musician Kirk Hammett (Metallica) is 46. Rock singer Tim DeLaughter is 43. Actor Owen Wilson is 40. Singer Duncan Sheik is 39. Actress Peta Wilson is 38. Actress Chloe Sevigny is 34. Country singer Jessi Alexander is 32. Actor Steven Pasquale is 32. Rapper Fabolous is 29. Actor Nate Parker is 29. Rapper Mike Jones is 28. Actor Nathan Kress is 16.

Thought for today: "It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument." -- William G. McAdoo, American government official (1863-1941)

[Associated Press]

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