This day in history

[September 08, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, Sept. 8, the 251st day of 2009. There are 114 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Sept. 8, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a "limited national emergency" in response to the outbreak of war in Europe.

On this date:

In 1565, a Spanish expedition established the first permanent European settlement in North America at present-day St. Augustine, Fla.

In 1664, the Dutch surrendered New Amsterdam to the British, who renamed it New York.

In 1900, Galveston, Texas, was struck by a hurricane that killed an estimated 8,000 people.

In 1930, the comic strip "Blondie," created by Chic Young, was first published.

In 1934, more than 130 people lost their lives in a fire aboard the liner SS Morro Castle off the New Jersey coast.

In 1941, the 900-day Siege of Leningrad by German forces began during World War II.

In 1951, a peace treaty with Japan was signed by 49 nations in San Francisco.

In 1974, President Gerald R. Ford granted an unconditional pardon to former President Richard Nixon.

In 1994, a USAir Boeing 737 crashed into a ravine as it was approaching Pittsburgh International Airport, killing all 132 people on board.

In 1998, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals broke major league baseball's record for home runs in a single season, hitting his 62nd off Chicago Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel and eclipsing the 37-year-old record held by Roger Maris.

Ten years ago: Former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley officially kicked off his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination with a rally in his hometown of Crystal City, Mo. Economist Herbert Stein, who'd served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Nixon administration, died at age 83.

Five years ago: CBS' "60 Minutes II" aired a report raising questions about President George W. Bush's National Guard service; however, CBS News ended up apologizing for a "mistake in judgment" after memos featured in the report were challenged as forgeries. The Genesis space capsule, which had spent three years gathering solar wind samples, crashed to Earth when its parachutes failed to deploy. Richard G. Butler, founder of the Aryan Nations, was found dead in his bed in Hayden, Idaho; he was 86.

One year ago: In a pointed but mostly symbolic expression of displeasure with Moscow, President George W. Bush canceled a once-celebrated civilian nuclear cooperation deal with Russia. Roger Federer salvaged the 2008 season by easily beating Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 to win his fifth consecutive U.S. Open championship and 13th major title overall.

Today's birthdays: Comedian Sid Caesar is 87. Ventriloquist Willie Tyler is 69. Actor Alan Feinstein is 68. Pop singer Sal Valentino (The Beau Brummels) is 67. Author Ann Beattie is 62. Cajun singer Zachary Richard is 59. Musician Will Lee ("Late Show with David Letterman") is 57. Actress Heather Thomas is 52. Singer Aimee Mann is 49. Pop musician David Steele (Fine Young Cannibals) is 49. Actor Thomas Kretschmann is 47. R&B singer Marc Gordon (Levert) is 45. Gospel singer Darlene Zschech is 44. Alternative country singer Neko Case is 39. TV personality Brooke Burke is 38. Actor Martin Freeman is 38. Actor Henry Thomas is 38. Actor David Arquette is 38. Rock musician Richard Hughes (Keane) is 34. Actor Larenz Tate is 34. Actor Nathan Corddry is 32. R&B singer Pink is 30. Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas is 28.

Thought for today: "Censorship is the height of vanity." -- Martha Graham, American modern dance pioneer (1893-1991)

[Associated Press]

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