This day in history

[October 20, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, Oct. 20, the 293rd day of 2010. There are 72 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Oct. 20, 1973, in the so-called "Saturday Night Massacre," special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox was dismissed and Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William B. Ruckelshaus resigned.

On this date:

In 1740, Maria Theresa became ruler of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia upon the death of her father, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI.

In 1803, the U.S. Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase.

In 1903, a joint commission ruled in favor of the United States in a boundary dispute between the District of Alaska and Canada.

In 1944, during World War II, Gen. Douglas MacArthur stepped ashore at Leyte (LAY'-tee) in the Philippines, 2 1/2 years after saying, "I shall return."

In 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee opened hearings into alleged Communist influence and infiltration in the U.S. motion picture industry.

In 1964, the 31st president of the United States, Herbert Hoover, died in New York at age 90.

In 1967, seven men were convicted in Meridian, Miss., of violating the civil rights of three slain civil rights workers.

In 1968, former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

In 1979, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum was dedicated in Boston.

In 1990, three members of the rap group 2 Live Crew were acquitted by a jury in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. of violating obscenity laws with an adults-only concert in nearby Hollywood the previous June.

Ten years ago: An Israeli-Palestinian truce brokered by President Bill Clinton collapsed in a hail of gunfire, with Israeli troops killing nine Palestinians and wounding dozens more. Egyptian-born Ali Mohamed, a U.S. citizen who'd served in the Army, pleaded guilty in New York to helping plan the deadly U.S. Embassy bombings in Africa in 1998 that killed 224 people, including 12 Americans.

Five years ago: U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay turned himself in at the sheriff's office in Travis County, Texas, where he was fingerprinted, photographed and released on $10,000 bail on conspiracy and money-laundering charges. (DeLay has yet to stand trial.) A defense lawyer in Saddam Hussein's mass murder trial was abducted from his office and found murdered hours later. Jazz pianist and vocalist Shirley Horn died in Washington, D.C. at age 71.

One year ago: Ignoring appeals by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and even rock star Sting, Iran sentenced an Iranian-American academic, Kian Tajbakhsh (KEE'-ahn tahj-BAHKSH'), to 12 years in prison for his alleged role in anti-government protests. Afghanistan's election commission ordered a runoff in the disputed presidential poll. (The runoff was later canceled, and President Hamid Karzai proclaimed the winner.)

Today's birthdays: Actor William Christopher is 78. Japan's Empress Michiko is 76. Rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson is 73. Singer Tom Petty is 60. Actor William "Rusty" Russ is 60. Actress Melanie Mayron is 58. Retired MLB All-Star Keith Hernandez is 57. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) is 55. Movie director Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire") is 54. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is 53. Actor Viggo Mortensen is 52. Rock musician Jim Sonefeld (Hootie & The Blowfish) is 46. Rock musician David Ryan is 46. Rock musician Doug Eldridge (Oleander) is 43. Political commentator and blogger Michelle Malkin is 40. Rapper Snoop Dogg is 39. Singer Dannii Minogue is 39. Country musician Jeff Loberg is 34. Actor John Krasinski is 31. Actress Katie Featherston is 28. Actress Jennifer Nicole Freeman ("My Wife and Kids") is 25.

Thought for today: "Cynicism is intellectual dandyism." -- George Meredith, English poet (1828-1909)

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.