This day in history

[September 15, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, Sept. 15, the 258th day of 2010. There are 107 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Sept. 15, 1940, during the World War II Battle of Britain, the tide turned as the Royal Air Force inflicted heavy losses against the Luftwaffe, forcing Adolf Hitler to indefinitely postpone his plans to invade Britain.

On this date:

In 1776, British forces occupied New York City during the American Revolution.

In 1789, the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs was renamed the Department of State.

In 1807, former Vice President Aaron Burr was acquitted of a misdemeanor charge two weeks after he was found not guilty of treason.

In 1821, the Kingdom of Guatemala proclaimed its independence from Spain.

In 1857, William Howard Taft -- who served as president of the United States and as U.S. chief justice -- was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws deprived German Jews of their citizenship.

In 1950, during the Korean conflict, United Nations forces landed at Incheon in the south and began their drive toward Seoul (sohl).

In 1959, Nikita Khrushchev became the first Soviet head of state to visit the United States as he arrived at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, where he was greeted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In 1963, four black girls were killed when a bomb went off during Sunday services at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. (Three Ku Klux Klansmen were eventually convicted for their roles in the blast.)

In 1982, Iran's former foreign minister, Sadegh Ghotbzadeh (sah-DEK' goht-BZAH'-deh), was executed after he was convicted of plotting against the government.

Ten years ago: The 2000 Summer Olympics opened in Sydney, Australia, with a seemingly endless parade of athletes and coaches and a spectacular display; Aborigine runner Cathy Freeman ignited an Olympic ring of fire.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush, addressing the nation from storm-ravaged New Orleans, acknowledged the government had failed to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina, and urged Congress to approve a massive reconstruction program. Hurricane Ophelia continued to lash the Outer Banks of North Carolina with rain and wind. Producer Sid Luft, who was credited with reviving the career of his then-wife, Judy Garland, died in Santa Monica, Calif. at age 89.

One year ago: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the worst recession since the 1930s was "very likely over," although he cautioned that pain -- especially for nearly 15 million unemployed Americans -- would persist. An unrepentant Muntadhar al-Zeidi (MOON'-tuh-dahr ahl-zay-EE'-dee), the Iraqi reporter who'd thrown his shoes at President George W. Bush in Dec. 2008, was freed from prison.

Today's birthdays: Actor-director Jackie Cooper is 88. Actor Forrest Compton is 85. Comedian Norm Crosby is 83. Actor Henry Darrow is 77. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Gaylord Perry is 72. Opera singer Jessye Norman is 65. Writer-director Ron Shelton is 65. Actor Tommy Lee Jones is 64. Movie director Oliver Stone is 64. Rock musician Kelly Keagy (KAY'-gee) (Night Ranger) is 58. Rock musician Mitch Dorge (Crash Test Dummies) is 50. Football Hall-of-Famer Dan Marino is 49. Actor Danny Nucci is 42. Rap DJ Kay Gee is 41. Actor Josh Charles is 39. Singer Ivette (EE'-veht) Sosa (Eden's Crush) is 34. Pop-rock musician Zach Filkins (OneRepublic) is 32. Actor Dave Annable is 31. Actress Amy Davidson is 31. Britain's Prince Henry of Wales is 26. TV personality Heidi Montag is 24.

Thought for today: "A generation which ignores history has no past -- and no future." -- Robert A. Heinlein, American science-fiction author (1907-1988)

[Associated Press]

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