This day in history

[September 09, 2008]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, Sept. 9, the 253rd day of 2008. There are 113 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Sept. 9, 1776, the second Continental Congress made the term "United States" official, replacing "United Colonies."

On this date:

In 1830, Charles Durant flew a balloon from New York City across the Hudson River to Perth Amboy, N.J.

In 1850, California became the 31st state of the union.

In 1893, Frances Cleveland, wife of President Cleveland, gave birth to a daughter, Esther, in the White House; it was the first time a president's child was born in the Executive Mansion.

In 1926, the National Broadcasting Co. (NBC) was incorporated by the Radio Corporation of America.

In 1948, the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was declared.

In 1956, Elvis Presley made the first of three appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1957, President Eisenhower signed into law the first civil rights bill to pass Congress since Reconstruction.

In 1971, prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, N.Y., beginning a siege that claimed 43 lives.

In 1976, Communist Chinese leader Mao Zedong died in Beijing at age 82.

In 1997, Sinn Fein, the IRA's political ally, formally renounced violence as it took its place in talks on Northern Ireland's future.

Ten years ago: Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr delivered to Congress 36 boxes of material concerning his investigation of President Clinton. Four tourists who had paid $32,500 each were taken in a tiny submarine to view the wreckage of the Titanic 2 1/2 miles below the ocean surface off Newfoundland.

Five years ago: The Boston Roman Catholic Archdiocese agreed to pay $85 million to 552 people to settle clergy sex abuse cases. France's leading undertaker estimated the country's death toll from a summer heat wave at 15,000. Twin Palestinian suicide bombings killed 16 Israelis. Nuclear scientist Edward Teller died at age 95.

One year ago: Seemingly taunting Osama bin Laden, President Bush's homeland security adviser, Frances Fragos Townsend, said in Sunday talk-show appearances that the fugitive al-Qaida leader was "virtually impotent" beyond his ability to hide away and spread anti-American propaganda. Roger Federer beat Novak Djokovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4 to win his fourth straight U.S. Open championship. Britney Spears performed her new single "Gimme More" in a much-criticized comeback attempt at the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Today's birthdays: Actor Cliff Robertson is 85. Actor Topol is 73. Rhythm-and-blues singer Luther Simmons is 66. Singer Inez Foxx is 66. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson is 63. Singer Dee Dee Sharp is 63. Rock singer-musician Doug Ingle is 62. Country singer Freddy Weller is 61. Football commentator Joe Theismann is 59. Actor Tom Wopat is 57. Actress Angela Cartwright is 56. Musician-producer Dave Stewart is 56. Actor Hugh Grant is 48. Actor Adam Sandler is 42. Actor David Bennent is 42. Rock singer Paul Durham (Black Lab) is 40. Model Rachel Hunter is 39. Actor Goran Visnjic is 36. Pop-jazz singer Michael Buble is 33. Latin singer Maria Rita is 31. Actress Michelle Williams is 28.

Thought for today: "Neurosis is the way of avoiding non-being by avoiding being." -- Paul Tillich, American theologian (1886-1965)

[Associated Press]

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