This day in history

[October 28, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, Oct. 28, the 301st day of 2009. There are 64 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Oct. 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland.

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 1918, the Republic of Czechoslovakia proclaimed its independence.

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

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rededicated the Statue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary.

In 1940, Italy invaded Greece during World War II.

In 1958, the Roman Catholic patriarch of Venice, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was elected pope; he took the name John XXIII.

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

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

Ten years ago: Five Republican presidential hopefuls debated such issues as abortion, health care and taxes in their second meeting in less than a week; once again, front-runner George W. Bush was absent from the gathering in New Hampshire. The House passed, 218-211, the last spending bill of the year, which President Bill Clinton said he would veto.

Five years ago: Insurgents executed 11 Iraqi soldiers and declared on an Islamic militant Web site that Iraqi fighters would avenge "the blood" of women and children killed in U.S. strikes on the guerrilla stronghold of Fallujah. Boston Red Sox fans turned out by the tens of thousands near historic Fenway Park to celebrate their World Series champion team, the city's first since 1918.

One year ago: Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was sentenced to four months in jail for his part in a sex-and-text scandal. (Kilpatrick ended up serving 99 days.)

Today's birthdays: Jazz singer Cleo Laine is 82. Actress Joan Plowright is 80. Musician-songwriter Charlie Daniels is 73. Actress Jane Alexander is 70. Singer Curtis Lee is 68. Actor Dennis Franz is 65. Pop singer Wayne Fontana is 64. Actress Telma Hopkins is 61. Olympic track and field gold medalist Bruce Jenner is 60. Actress Annie Potts is 57. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is 54. The president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is 53. Rock musician Stephen Morris (New Order) is 52. Country/gospel singer-musician Ron Hemby (The Buffalo Club) is 51. Rock singer-musician William Reid (The Jesus & Mary Chain) is 51. Actor Mark Derwin is 49. Actress Daphne Zuniga is 47. Actress Lauren Holly is 46. Actress Jami Gertz is 44. Actor Chris Bauer is 43. "Tonight Show" sidekick Andy Richter is 43. Actress Julia Roberts is 42. Country singer-musician Caitlin Cary is 41. Actor Jeremy Davies is 40. Singer Ben Harper is 40. Country singer Brad Paisley is 37. Retired NFL player Terrell Davis is 37. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 35. Singer Justin Guarini ("American Idol") is 31. Pop singer Brett Dennen is 30. Rock musician Dave Tirio (Plain White T's) is 30.

Thought for today: "Truth is not introduced into the individual from without, but was within him all the time." -- Soren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher (1813-1855)

[Associated Press]

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