This day in history

[September 12, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Saturday, Sept. 12, the 255th day of 2009. There are 110 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Sept. 12, 1960, Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy addressed questions about his Roman Catholic faith, telling a Southern Baptist group in Houston, "I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me."

On this date:

In 1880, author and journalist H.L. Mencken was born in Baltimore.

In 1918, during World War I, U.S. forces led by Gen. John J. Pershing launched a successful attack on the German-occupied St. Mihiel salient near Verdun, France.

In 1938, Adolf Hitler demanded the right of self-determination for the Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia.

In 1943, German paratroopers took Benito Mussolini from the hotel where he was being held by the Italian government.

In 1953, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in Newport, R.I.

In 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Cooper v. Aaron, unanimously ruled that Arkansas officials who were resisting public school desegregation orders could not disregard the high court's rulings.

In 1959, the Soviet Union launched its Luna 2 space probe, which made a crash landing on the moon. The TV Western series "Bonanza" premiered on NBC.

In 1974, Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed by Ethiopia's military after ruling for 58 years.

In 1977, South African black student leader Steve Biko died while in police custody, triggering an international outcry.

In 1992, the space shuttle Endeavour blasted off, carrying with it Mark Lee and Jan Davis, the first married couple in space; Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space; and Mamoru Mohri, the first Japanese citizen to fly on a U.S. spaceship.

Ten years ago: Under intense international pressure, Indonesia announced it would allow an international peacekeeping force to restore order to the devastated territory of East Timor. Andre Agassi captured his second U.S. Open title, dominating Todd Martin 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-2. "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal," both created by writer-producer David E. Kelley, were named best drama series and best comedy series at the 51st Emmy Awards.

Five years ago: US Airways Group Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in two years. Ten people were killed in an apartment fire just outside Columbus, Ohio. Hurricane Ivan battered the Cayman Islands with ferocious 150 mph winds. Roger Federer won the U.S. Open, defeating Lleyton Hewitt 6-0, 7-6 (3), 6-0. Playwright Jerome Chodorov died in Nyack, N.Y., at age 93.

One year ago: A Metrolink commuter train struck a freight train head-on in Los Angeles, killing 25 people. (Federal investigators have said the Metrolink engineer, Robert Sanchez, had been text-messaging on his cell phone and ran a red light shortly before the crash.) Hurricane Ike began battering the Texas coast. Grand Ole Opry star Charlie Walker died in Hendersonville, Tenn. at age 81.

Today's birthdays: Actor Dickie Moore ("Our Gang") is 84. Actor Freddie Jones is 82. Country singer George Jones is 78. Actor Ian Holm is 78. Actress Linda Gray is 69. Singer Maria Muldaur is 66. Actor Joe Pantoliano is 58. Singer-musician Gerry Beckley (America) is 57. Rock musician Neil Peart (Rush) is 57. Actor Peter Scolari is 54. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) is 53. Actress Rachel Ward is 52. Actress Amy Yasbeck is 47. Rock musician Norwood Fisher (Fishbone) is 44. Actor Darren E. Burrows is 43. Rock singer-musician Ben Folds (Ben Folds Five) is 43. Rock musician Larry LaLonde (Primus) is 41. Actor Josh Hopkins is 39. Actor Paul Walker is 36. Country singer Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) is 35. Actor Benjamin McKenzie is 31. Singer Ruben Studdard is 31. NFL player Dan Koppen is 30. NBA player Yao Ming is 29. Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson is 28. Actress Emmy Rossum is 23.

Thought for today: "Any man who afflicts the human race with ideas must be prepared to see them misunderstood." -- H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.