This day in history

[June 26, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Saturday, June 26, the 177th day of 2010. There are 188 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On June 26, 1963, President John F. Kennedy visited West Berlin, where he expressed solidarity with the city's residents by declaring: "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner).

On this date:

In 1870, the first section of Atlantic City, N.J.'s Boardwalk was opened to the public.

In 1919, the New York Daily News was first published.

In 1945, the charter of the United Nations was signed by 50 countries in San Francisco.

In 1948, the Berlin Airlift began in earnest after the Soviet Union cut off land and water routes to the isolated western sector of Berlin.

In 1950, President Harry S. Truman authorized the Air Force and Navy to enter the Korean conflict.

In 1960, the island nation of Madagascar became independent of French rule.

In 1973, former White House counsel John W. Dean told the Senate Watergate Committee about an "enemies list" kept by the Nixon White House.

In 1977, 42 people were killed when a fire sent toxic smoke pouring through the Maury County Jail in Columbia, Tenn.

In 1988, three people were killed when a new Airbus A320 jetliner carrying more than 130 people crashed into a forest during an air show demonstration flight in Mulhouse (muh-LOOZ'), France.

In 1990, President George H.W. Bush went back on his "no-new-taxes" campaign pledge, conceding that tax increases would have to be included in any deficit-reduction package worked out with congressional negotiators.

Ten years ago: Rival scientific teams completed the first rough map of the human genetic code after a ten-year race. The Supreme Court gave new power to its landmark Miranda decision of 1966, ruling police still must warn the people they arrest of their "right to remain silent" when questioned.

Five years ago: Dozens of international leaders met in San Francisco to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United Nations' birth. Tens of thousands of festively dressed people marched in parades around the country to celebrate the 35th anniversary of gay pride. South Korea's Birdie Kim holed a 30-yard bunker shot to birdie the 18th hole and win the U.S. Women's Open.

One year ago: Los Angeles County medical examiners performed an autopsy on the remains of pop star Michael Jackson a day following his death at age 50. The Democratic-controlled House passed a global warming measure 219-212 following intense lobbying by President Barack Obama. A federal judge in New York ordered disgraced financier Bernard Madoff stripped of all his possessions under a $171 billion forfeiture order.

Today's birthdays: Actress Eleanor Parker is 88. Jazz musician-film composer Dave Grusin is 76. Actor Josef Sommer is 76. Singer Billy Davis Jr. is 70. Rock singer Georgie Fame is 67. Actor Clive Francis is 64. Rhythm-and-blues singer Brenda Holloway is 64. Actor Michael Paul Chan is 60. Actor Robert Davi is 57. Singer-musician Mick Jones is 55. Actor Gedde Watanabe (GEH'-dee wah-tah-NAH'-bee) is 55. Rock singer Chris Isaak is 54. Rock singer Patty Smyth is 53. Singer Terri Nunn (Berlin) is 49. Rock singer Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays) is 47. Rock musician Colin Greenwood (Radiohead) is 41. Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson is 40. Actor Sean Hayes is 40. Actor Matt Letscher is 40. Actor Chris O'Donnell is 40. Actress Rebecca Budig is 37. MLB player Derek Jeter is 36. Country singer Gretchen Wilson is 36. Rock musician Nathan Followill (Kings of Leon) is 31. Pop-rock singer-musician Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic) is 31. Actor-musician Jason Schwartzman is 30. Actress Kaitlin Cullum is 24. Actress-singer Jennette McCurdy is 18.

Thought for today: "Nothing is improbable until it moves into the past tense." -- George Ade, American writer (1866-1944)

[Associated Press]

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