Today is Saturday, Sept. 13, the 257th day of 2008. There are 109 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:
On Sept. 13, 1788, the Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election, and declared New York City the temporary national capital.
On this date:
In 1759, during the final French and Indian War, the British defeated the French on the Plains of Abraham overlooking Quebec City.
In 1803, Commodore John Barry, considered by many the father of the American Navy, died in Philadelphia.
In 1851, American medical pioneer Walter Reed was born in Gloucester County, Va.
In 1907, the RMS Lusitania arrived in New York, completing its maiden voyage from England.
In 1948, Republican Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress.
In 1971, a four-day inmates' rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York ended as police and guards stormed the prison; the ordeal and final assault claimed 43 lives.
In 1977, conductor Leopold Stokowski died in Hampshire, England, at age 95.
In 1989, Fay Vincent was named commissioner of Major League Baseball, succeeding the late A. Bartlett Giamatti.
In 1993, at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands after signing an accord granting limited Palestinian autonomy.
In 1997, funeral services were held in Calcutta, India, for Nobel peace laureate Mother Teresa.
Ten years ago: Former Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace died at age 79. Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs hit his 61st and 62nd home runs of the season to pass Roger Maris and pull into a tie with Mark McGwire. Patrick Rafter won his second straight U.S. Open title, defeating fellow Australian Mark Philippoussis 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0. NBC's "Frasier" won a record fifth consecutive award as best comedy series at the 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards; ABC's "The Practice" was honored as best drama.
Five years ago: Angry mourners swarmed Fallujah, Iraq, a day after eight Iraqi police were killed in a friendly fire incident involving U.S. troops; the U.S. military apologized for the deaths. The California Democratic Party voted to endorse Lieutenant Gov. Cruz Bustamante while continuing to support Gov. Gray Davis in the Oct. 7 recall election. Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon died at age 73. In Las Vegas, Sugar Shane Mosley beat Oscar De La Hoya, winning a close but unanimous decision to take the WBC and WBA 154-pound titles.
