This day in history

[October 28, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, Oct. 28, the 301st day of 2010. There are 64 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Oct. 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland.

On this date:

In 1636, the General Court of Massachusetts passed a legislative act establishing Harvard College.

In 1776, the Battle of White Plains was fought during the Revolutionary War, resulting in a limited British victory.

In 1858, Rowland Hussey Macy opened his first New York store at Sixth Avenue and 14th Street in Manhattan.

In 1918, the Republic of Czechoslovakia proclaimed its independence.

In 1919, Congress enacted the Volstead Act, which provided for enforcement of Prohibition, over President Woodrow Wilson's veto.

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rededicated the Statue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary.

In 1940, Italy invaded Greece during World War II.

In 1958, the Roman Catholic patriarch of Venice, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was elected Pope; he took the name John XXIII.

In 1962, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the United States that he had ordered the dismantling of missile bases in Cuba.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter and Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan faced off in a nationally broadcast, 90-minute debate in Cleveland.

Ten years ago: The party of moderate Ibrahim Rugova (IHB'-rah-heem roo-GOH'-vah) won Kosovo's municipal elections. David Trimble, leader of Northern Ireland's biggest Protestant party, narrowly won a crucial party battle, keeping alive the province's power-sharing government.

Five years ago: Vice President Dick Cheney's top adviser, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, resigned after he wass indicted on charges of obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements in the CIA leak investigation. (Libby was convicted, but had his 30-month prison sentence commuted by President George W. Bush.) More than a million demonstrators flooded the streets of Tehran and other major cities in Iran to back President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's (mahk-MOOD' ah-muh-DEE'-neh-zhadhz) call for the destruction of Israel.

Tens years ago: Taliban militants stormed a guest house used by U.N. staff in the heart of the Afghan capital, leaving 11 dead, including five U.N. staff and three attackers. A car bomb exploded in a crowded market in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing at least 112. Angela Merkel was sworn in for a second term as German chancellor. The defending champion Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Yankees 6-1 in Game 1 of the World Series.

Today's birthdays: Jazz singer Cleo Laine is 83. Actress Joan Plowright is 81. Musician-songwriter Charlie Daniels is 74. Actress Jane Alexander is 71. Singer Curtis Lee is 69. Actor Dennis Franz is 66. Pop singer Wayne Fontana is 65. Actress Telma Hopkins is 62. Olympic track and field gold medalist Bruce Jenner is 61. Actress Annie Potts is 58. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is 55. The president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (ah-muh-DEE'-neh-zhahd), is 54. Rock musician Stephen Morris (New Order) is 53. Country/gospel singer-musician Ron Hemby (The Buffalo Club) is 52. Rock singer-musician William Reid (The Jesus & Mary Chain) is 52. Actor Mark Derwin is 50. Actress Daphne Zuniga is 48. Actress Lauren Holly is 47. Actress Jami Gertz is 45. Actor Chris Bauer is 44. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 44. Actress Julia Roberts is 43. Country singer-musician Caitlin Cary is 42. Actor Jeremy Davies is 41. Singer Ben Harper is 41. Country singer Brad Paisley is 38. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 36. Singer Justin Guarini ("American Idol") is 32. Pop singer Brett Dennen is 31. Rock musician Dave Tirio (Plain White T's) is 31.

Thought for today: "I prefer liberty with danger than peace with slavery." -- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Swiss-born French philosopher (1712-1778)

[Associated Press]

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