This day in history

[October 28, 2008]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, Oct. 28, the 302nd day of 2008. There are 64 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

Fifty years ago, on Oct. 28, 1958, the Roman Catholic patriarch of Venice, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was elected Pope; he took the name John XXIII.

On this date:

In 1636, the General Court of Massachusetts passed a legislative act establishing Harvard College.

In 1776, the Battle of White Plains was fought during the Revolutionary War, resulting in a limited British victory.

In 1858, Rowland Hussey Macy opened his first New York store at Sixth Avenue and 14th Street in Manhattan.

In 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Cleveland.

In 1893, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky conducted the first public performance of his Symphony No. 6 in B minor ("Pathetique") in St. Petersburg, Russia, just nine days before his death.

In 1918, the Republic of Czechoslovakia proclaimed its independence.

In 1919, Congress enacted the Volstead Act, which provided for enforcement of Prohibition, over President Wilson's veto.

In 1958, the Samuel Beckett play "Krapp's Last Tape" premiered in London.

In 1962, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the United States that he had ordered the dismantling of missile bases in Cuba.

In 1980, President Carter and Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan faced off in a nationally broadcast, 90-minute debate in Cleveland.

Ten years ago: In London, the High Court ruled that former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was immune from prosecution in British courts. (The House of Lords later overturned the decision, saying Pinochet's arrest could stand. Pinochet was eventually allowed to return to Chile, where a court later held that he could not face charges because of his deteriorating health and mental condition. Pinochet died in 2006.)

Five years ago: Firefighters beat back flames on Los Angeles' doorstep, saving hundreds of homes in the city's San Fernando Valley from California's deadliest wildfires in more than a decade. The Senate confirmed Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. A Soyuz space capsule carrying an American, a Russian and a Spaniard from the International Space Station landed in Kazakhstan. The seven astronauts who died in the Columbia shuttle disaster were honored with the unveiling of their names carved into the national Space Mirror Memorial.

One year ago: Fire ravaged a North Carolina beach house, killing seven college students. Argentina's first lady, Cristina Fernandez, claimed victory in the country's presidential election; she became the first woman elected to the post. The Boston Red Sox swept to their second World Series title in four years with a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies in Game 4. Country star Porter Wagoner died in Nashville, Tenn., at age 80.

Today's birthdays: Jazz singer Cleo Laine is 81. Actress Joan Plowright is 79. Musician-songwriter Charlie Daniels is 72. Actress Jane Alexander is 69. Singer Curtis Lee is 67. Actor Dennis Franz is 64. Pop singer Wayne Fontana is 63. Actress Telma Hopkins is 60. Olympic track and field gold medalist Bruce Jenner is 59. Actress Annie Potts is 56. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is 53. Rock musician Stephen Morris (New Order) is 51. Country singer-musician Ron Hemby (The Buffalo Club) is 50. Rock singer-musician William Reid (The Jesus & Mary Chain) is 50. Actor Mark Derwin is 48. Actress Daphne Zuniga is 46. Actress Lauren Holly is 45. Actress Jami Gertz is 43. Actor Chris Bauer is 42. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 42. Actress Julia Roberts is 41. Country singer-musician Caitlin Cary is 40. Actor Jeremy Davies is 39. Singer Ben Harper is 39. Country singer Brad Paisley is 36. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 34. Singer Justin Guarini ("American Idol") is 30. Pop singer Brett Dennen is 29. Rock musician Dave Tirio (Plain White T's) is 29.

Thought for today: "Next to excellence is the appreciation of it." -- William Makepeace Thackeray, British author (1811-1863)

[Associated Press]

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