This day in history

[July 15, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, July 15, the 196th day of 2010. There are 169 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On July 15, 1910, the term "Alzheimer's disease" was used to describe a progressive form of presenile dementia in the book "Clinical Psychiatry" by German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin, who credited the work of his colleague, Alois Alzheimer, in identifying the condition.

On this date:

In 1870, Georgia became the last Confederate state readmitted to the Union. Manitoba entered confederation as the fifth Canadian province.

In 1916, Boeing Co., originally known as Pacific Aero Products Co., was founded in Seattle.

In 1918, the Second Battle of the Marne, resulting in an Allied victory, began during World War I.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman was nominated for another term of office by the Democratic national convention in Philadelphia.

In 1960, American opera singer Lawrence Tibbett died in New York at age 63.

In 1964, Sen. Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona was nominated for president by the Republican national convention in San Francisco.

In 1971, President Richard Nixon startled the country by announcing he would visit the People's Republic of China.

In 1976, a 36-hour kidnap ordeal began for 26 schoolchildren and their bus driver as they were abducted near Chowchilla, Calif., by three gunmen and imprisoned in an underground cell. (The captives escaped unharmed.)

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter delivered his "malaise" speech in which he lamented what he called a "crisis of confidence" in America.

In 1985, a shockingly gaunt-looking Rock Hudson appeared at a news conference with actress Doris Day (it was later revealed Hudson was suffering from AIDS).

Ten years ago: The United Nations launched a successful military operation to help 222 Indian peacekeepers and eleven military observers break out of a rebel stronghold in Sierra Leone. Lennox Lewis stopped Francois Botha at 2:39 of the second round to retain his WBC and IBF heavyweight titles in London. Former Rhode Island governor and longtime U.S. senator John O. Pastore died at age 93.

Five years ago: A federal appeals court ruled that a Guantanamo detainee who once was Osama bin Laden's driver could be tried by military tribunal. (However, the Supreme Court struck down the tribunals in June 2006, saying they violated U.S. and international law.) Bankrupt energy company Enron Corp. agreed to pay a settlement of up to $1.5 billion to resolve claims that it had gouged California and other western states during the 2000-2001 energy crisis.

One year ago: A Russian-made jetliner carrying 168 people crashed after taking off from Tehran, Iran, killing everyone aboard. After more than a month's delay, space shuttle Endeavour and seven astronauts thundered into orbit on a flight to the international space station.

Today's birthdays: Author Clive Cussler is 79. Actor Alex Karras is 75. Actor Ken Kercheval is 75. Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio) is 74. Actor Patrick Wayne is 71. Actor Jan-Michael Vincent is 66. Rhythm-and-blues singer Millie Jackson is 66. Rock singer-musician Peter Lewis (Moby Grape) is 65. Singer Linda Ronstadt is 64. Rock musician Artimus Pyle is 62. Actor Terry O'Quinn is 58. Rock musician Marky Ramone is 54. Rock musician Joe Satriani is 54. Country singer-songwriter Mac McAnally is 53. Model Kim Alexis is 50. Actor Willie Aames is 50. Actor-director Forest Whitaker is 49. Actress Lolita Davidovich is 49. Actress Brigitte Nielsen is 47. Rock musician Jason Bonham is 44. Actor Kristoff St. John is 44. Rock musician Phillip Fisher is 43. Rhythm-and-blues singer Stokley (Mint Condition) is 43. Actor-comedian Eddie Griffin is 42. Actor Stan Kirsch is 42. Actor Reggie Hayes is 41. Rock musician Chi (chee) Cheng (Deftones) is 40. Rock musician John Dolmayan is 38. Actor Scott Foley is 38. Actor Brian Austin Green is 37. Rapper Jim Jones is 34. Actress Diane Kruger is 34. Actress Lana Parrilla (LAH'-nuh pa-REE'-uh) is 33. Rock musician Ray Toro (My Chemical Romance) is 33. Actor Travis Fimmel is 31. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kia Thornton (Divine) is 29.

Thought for today: "Advice is a free gift that can become expensive for the one who gets it." -- Armenian proverb

[Associated Press]

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