This day in history

[May 12, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, May 12, the 132nd day of 2009. There are 233 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On May 12, 1949, the Soviet Union lifted the Berlin Blockade, which the Western powers had succeeded in circumventing with their Berlin Airlift.

On this date:

In 1870, an act creating the Canadian province of Manitoba was given royal assent, to take effect in July.

In 1907, actress Katharine Hepburn was born in Hartford, Conn.

In 1932, the body of Charles Lindbergh Jr., the kidnapped son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh, was found in a wooded area near Hopewell, N.J.

In 1937, Britain's King George VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

In 1943, during World War II, Axis forces in North Africa surrendered.

In 1958, the United States and Canada signed an agreement to create the North American Air Defense Command (later the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD).

In 1970, the Senate voted unanimously to confirm Harry A. Blackmun as a Supreme Court justice.

In 1975, the White House announced the new Cambodian government had seized an American merchant ship, the Mayaguez, in international waters.

In 1978, the Commerce Department said hurricanes would no longer be given only female names.

In 1982, in Fatima, Portugal, security guards overpowered a Spanish priest armed with a bayonet who was trying to reach Pope John Paul II.

Ten years ago: Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin announced he was leaving his post in July (he was succeeded by his deputy, Lawrence Summers). Russian President Boris Yeltsin dismissed Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov and the Cabinet.

Five years ago: Members of Congress expressed outrage after they were privately shown fresh pictures and videos of Iraqi prisoners being abused by U.S. troops. NBC completed a merger with the Universal television and entertainment businesses to create a major media conglomerate.

One year ago: A devastating earthquake in China's Sichuan province killed some 70,000 people. Nearly 400 workers were arrested in an immigration raid at a kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa. Irena Sendler, credited with saving some 2,500 Jewish children from the Holocaust, died in Warsaw, Poland, at age 98. Pop artist Robert Rauschenberg died on Captiva Island, Fla., at age 82. Indians second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera turned the 14th unassisted triple play in major league history during the second game of a doubleheader against Toronto. NBC announced that Jimmy Fallon would succeed Conan O'Brien as host of "Late Night."

Today's birthdays: Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra is 84. Critic John Simon is 84. Composer Burt Bacharach is 81. Actress Millie Perkins is 71. R&B singer Jayotis Washington is 68. Country singer Billy Swan is 67. Actress Linda Dano is 66. Musician Ian McLagan is 64. Actress Lindsay Crouse is 61. Singer-musician Steve Winwood is 61. Actor Gabriel Byrne is 59. Actor Bruce Boxleitner is 59. Singer Billy Squier is 59. Country singer Kix Brooks is 54. Actress Kim Greist is 51. Actor Ving Rhames is 50. Rock musician Billy Duffy is 48. Actor Emilio Estevez is 47. Actress April Grace is 47. Actress Vanessa A. Williams ("Melrose Place") is 46. Country musician Eddie Kilgallon is 44. Actor Stephen Baldwin is 43. Actor Scott Schwartz is 41. Actress Kim Fields is 40. Actress Samantha Mathis is 39. Actress Jamie Luner is 38. Actor Christian Campbell is 37. Actor Mackenzie Astin is 36. Actress Malin Akerman is 31. Actor Jason Biggs is 31. Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is 30. Actress Emily VanCamp is 23. Actor Malcolm David Kelley is 17. Actors Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten ("Everybody Loves Raymond") are 14.

Thought for today: "Good manners have much to do with the emotions. To make them ring true, one must feel them, not merely exhibit them." -- Amy Vanderbilt, American etiquette expert (1908-1974)

[Associated Press]

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