This day in history

[June 08, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Monday, June 8, the 159th day of 2009. There are 206 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 8, A.D. 632, the prophet Muhammad died in Medina.

On this date:

In 1845, Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, died in Nashville, Tenn.

In 1861, Tennessee seceded from the Union.

In 1864, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for another term as president during the National Union (Republican) Party's convention in Baltimore.

In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt offered to act as a mediator in the Russo-Japanese War.

In 1915, Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned in a disagreement with President Woodrow Wilson over U.S. handling of the sinking of the Lusitania.

In 1948, the "Texaco Star Theater" made its debut on NBC-TV with Milton Berle guest-hosting the first program. (Berle was later named the show's permanent host.)

In 1966, a merger was announced between the National and American Football Leagues, to take effect in 1970.

In 1967, 34 U.S. servicemen were killed when Israeli forces raided the Liberty, a Navy ship stationed in the Mediterranean. (Israel called the attack a tragic mistake.)

In 1978, a jury in Clark County, Nev., ruled the so-called "Mormon will," purportedly written by the late billionaire Howard Hughes, was a forgery.

In 1998, the National Rifle Association elected Charlton Heston its president.

Ten years ago: The United States, Russia and six leading democracies authorized a text calling for a peacekeeping force in Kosovo. President Bill Clinton announced new restrictions aimed at making it tougher for teens to sneak into R-rated movies.

Five years ago: The U.N. Security Council gave unanimous approval to a resolution endorsing the transfer of sovereignty to Iraq's new government by the end of June. Three Italians and a Polish contractor who'd been abducted in Iraq were freed by U.S. special forces. An American who worked for a U.S. defense contractor was shot and killed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a celestial rarity, Venus lined up between the sun and the Earth.

One year ago: Skyla Jade Whitaker, 11, and Taylor Paschal-Placker, 13, were shot to death along a country road near Weleetka, Okla., in a killing that remains unsolved. A man went on a knifing rampage in Tokyo, killing seven people. The average price of regular gas crept up to $4 a gallon. Rafael Nadal won his fourth consecutive French Open title in a rout, 6-1, 6-3, 6-0, again spoiling Roger Federer's bid to complete a career Grand Slam. Yani Tseng of Taiwan became the first rookie in 10 years to win a major, beating Maria Hjorth on the fourth hole of a playoff with a 5-foot birdie on the 18th hole to win the LPGA Championship.

Today's birthdays: Former First Lady Barbara Bush is 84. Actor-comedian Jerry Stiller is 82. Comedian Joan Rivers is 76. Actress Millicent Martin is 75. Actor James Darren is 73. Actor Bernie Casey is 70. Singer Nancy Sinatra is 69. Singer Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night) is 67. Musician Boz Scaggs is 65. Actor Don Grady is 65. Rock musician Mick Box (Uriah Heep) is 62. Author Sara Paretsky is 62. Actress Sonia Braga is 59. Actress Kathy Baker is 59. Country musician Tony Rice is 58. Actor Griffin Dunne is 54. "Dilbert" creator Scott Adams is 52. Actor-director Keenen Ivory Wayans is 51. Singer Mick Hucknall (Simply Red) is 49. Musician Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) is 47. R&B singer Doris Pearson (Five Star) is 43. Actress Julianna Margulies is 42. Actor Dan Futterman is 42. Actor David Sutcliffe is 40. R&B singer Nicci Gilbert is 39. Actress Kelli Williams is 39. Actor Mark Feuerstein is 38. Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday is 34. Contemporary Christian musician Mike Scheuchzer (MercyMe) is 34. Rapper Kanye West is 32. Blues-rock musician Derek Trucks (The Derek Trucks Band) is 30. Folk-bluegrass singer-musician Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek) is 28.

Though for today: "I do believe one ought to face facts. If you don't they get behind you and may become terrors, nightmares, giants, horrors. As long as one faces them one is top dog." -- Katherine Mansfield, New Zealander author (1888-1923)

[Associated Press]

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