This day in history

[March 26, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Friday, March 26, the 85th day of 2010. There are 280 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On March 26, 1979, a peace treaty was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin (men-AH'-kem BAY'-gihn) and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

On this date:

In 1804, the Louisiana Purchase was divided into the Territory of Orleans and the District of Louisiana.

In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna.

In 1885, the Eastman Dry Plate Co. of Rochester, N.Y. began manufacturing the first commercial photographic film on paper rolls.

In 1892, poet Walt Whitman died in Camden, N.J.

In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first U.S. team to win the Stanley Cup as they defeated the Montreal Canadiens.

In 1958, the U.S. Army launched America's third successful satellite, Explorer 3.

In 1971, East Pakistan proclaimed its independence, taking the name Bangladesh.

In 1982, groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C. for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

In 1990, designer Roy Halston died in San Francisco at age 57.

In 1997, the bodies of 39 members of the Heaven's Gate techno-religious cult who'd committed suicide were found inside a rented mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Ten years ago: "American Beauty" won five Oscars, including best picture; its leading man, Kevin Spacey, won best actor, while Hilary Swank won best actress for "Boys Don't Cry." Vladimir Putin was elected Russia's second democratically chosen president. "Joy of Sex" author Alex Comfort died in Oxfordshire, England, at age 80.

Five years ago: German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger stood in for Pope John Paul II during the Easter Vigil Mass at the Vatican. (Ratzinger later succeeded John Paul, becoming Pope Benedict XVI.) Former British Prime Minister James Callaghan died one day before his 93rd birthday in East Sussex county, England.

One year ago: President Barack Obama held an unprecedented Internet town hall from the White House as he made a direct sales pitch for his $3.6 trillion budget. A 23,000-ton Norwegian-owned vessel with a crew of 27 was hijacked off the Somali coastline. (The Bow Asir was released two weeks later.) A Soyuz capsule carrying a Russian-American crew and U.S billionaire space tourist Charles Simonyi blasted off for the international space station. All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada received a sentence of a year's probation for misleading Congress about an ex-teammate's use of performance-enhancing drugs. Evan Lysacek became the first American since Todd Eldredge in 1996 to win the men's title at the World Figure Skating Championship, held in Los Angeles.

Today's birthdays: Jazz musician James Moody is 85. Conductor-composer Pierre Boulez is 85. Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is 80. Actor-director Leonard Nimoy is 79. Actor Alan Arkin is 76. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (puh-LOH'-see) is 70. Actor James Caan is 70. Author Erica Jong is 68. Journalist Bob Woodward is 67. Singer Diana Ross is 66. Actor Johnny Crawford is 64. Rock singer Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) is 62. Singer and TV personality Vicki Lawrence is 61. Actor Ernest Thomas is 61. Comedian Martin Short is 60. Country singer Ronnie McDowell is 60. Movie composer Alan Silvestri is 60. Rock musician Monte Yoho is 58. Radio talk show host Curtis Sliwa is 56. Country singer Dean Dillon is 55. Country singer Charly McClain is 54. TV personality Leeza Gibbons is 53. Actress Jennifer Grey is 50. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen is 50. Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton is 48. Actor Michael Imperioli is 44. Rock musician James Iha (EE'-hah) is 42. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 42. Actor T.R. Knight is 37. Rapper Juvenile is 35. Actress Amy Smart is 34. Actress Bianca Kajlich (KY'-lihk) is 33. Actress Keira Knightley is 25. Rapper J-Kwon is 24.

Thought for today: "Our whole life is an attempt to discover when our spontaneity is whimsical, sentimental irresponsibility and when it is a valid expression of our deepest desires and values." -- Helen Merrell Lynd, American sociologist and author (1896-1982)

[Associated Press]

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