This day in history

[October 22, 2008]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, Oct. 22, the 296th day of 2008. There are 70 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Oct. 22, 1962, President Kennedy announced a quarantine of all offensive military equipment shipped to Cuba, following the discovery of Soviet-built missile bases on the island.

On this date:

In 1746, Princeton University was first chartered as the College of New Jersey.

In 1797, French balloonist Andre-Jacques Garnerin made the first parachute descent, landing safely from a height of about 3,000 feet over Paris.

In 1836, Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first constitutionally elected president of the Republic of Texas.

In 1883, the original Metropolitan Opera House in New York held its grand opening with a performance of Gounod's "Faust."

In 1928, Republican presidential nominee Herbert Hoover spoke of the "American system of rugged individualism" in a speech at New York's Madison Square Garden.

In 1934, bank robber Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd was shot to death by federal agents at a farm in East Liverpool, Ohio.

In 1968, Apollo 7 returned safely, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1979, the U.S. government allowed the deposed Shah of Iran to travel to New York for medical treatment - a decision that precipitated the Iran hostage crisis.

In 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization was decertified by the federal government for its strike the previous August.

In 1986, President Reagan signed into law sweeping tax-overhaul legislation.

Ten years ago: The government advised parents to remove the batteries from their kids' "Power Wheels" cars and trucks, made by Fisher-Price, because of faulty wiring that could cause them to erupt into flames.

Five years ago: President Bush defended U.S. policy from the Mideast to Iraq during a frank exchange with moderate Muslim leaders during a stopover in Bali, Indonesia. The Florida Marlins edged the New York Yankees 4-3 in 12 innings to even the World Series at two games each. IRL racer Tony Renna, 26, died after crashing at nearly 220 mph during a test drive at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

One year ago: A federal judge in Dallas declared a mistrial for former leaders of the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation, a Muslim charity accused of funding terrorism. China's Communist Party gave President Hu Jintao a second five-year term. Marie Osmond fainted during ABC's live broadcast of "Dancing With the Stars."

Today's birthdays: Actress Joan Fontaine is 91. Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing is 89. Actor Christopher Lloyd is 70. Actor Derek Jacobi is 70. Actor Tony Roberts is 69. Actress Annette Funicello is 66. Movie director Jan de Bont is 65. Actress Catherine Deneuve is 65. Rock musician Leslie West (Mountain) is 63. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is 61. Actor Jeff Goldblum is 56. Movie director Bill Condon is 53. Actor Luis Guzman is 51. Actor-writer-producer Todd Graff is 49. Rock musician Cris Kirkwood is 48. Christian singer TobyMac is 44. Singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding is 43. Actress Valeria Golino is 42. Comedian Carlos Mencia is 41. Country singer Shelby Lynne is 40. Reggae rapper Shaggy is 40. Rapper Tracey Lee is 38. Actor Michael Fishman is 27. Talk show host Michael Essany is 26. Rock musician Zac Hanson (Hanson) is 23. Actor Jonathan Lipnicki is 18. Actress Sofia Vassilieva is 16.

Thought for today: "Happiness is not a horse; you cannot harness it." -- Russian proverb

[Associated Press]

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