This day in history

[February 02, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, Feb. 2, the 33rd day of 2011. There are 332 days left in the year. This is Groundhog Day.

Today's highlight in history:

On Feb. 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War, was signed.

On this date:

In 1536, present-day Buenos Aires, Argentina, was founded by Pedro de Mendoza of Spain.

In 1653, New Amsterdam -- now New York City -- was incorporated.

In 1876, the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs was formed in New York.

In 1882, Irish poet and novelist James Joyce was born near Dublin.

In 1897, fire destroyed the Pennsylvania state capitol in Harrisburg. (A new statehouse was dedicated on the same site in 1906.)

In 1943, the remainder of Nazi forces from the Battle of Stalingrad surrendered in a major victory for the Soviets in World War II.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman sent a 10-point civil rights program to Congress, where the proposals ran into fierce opposition from southern lawmakers.

In 1961, the hijackers of the Portuguese ocean liner the Santa Maria allowed the passengers and crew to disembark in Brazil, 11 days after seizing the ship. Chinese-American actress Anna May Wong died in Santa Monica, Calif., at age 56.

In 1971, Idi Amin, having seized power in Uganda, proclaimed himself president.

In 1990, in a dramatic concession to South Africa's black majority, President F.W. de Klerk lifted a ban on the African National Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela.

Ten years ago: Former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., said they would pay for $86,000 worth of White House gifts they'd chosen to keep.

Five years ago: House Republicans elected John Boehner (BAY'-nur) of Ohio as their new majority leader to replace the indicted Tom DeLay. Tornadoes tore through New Orleans neighborhoods that had been hit hard by Hurricane Katrina five months earlier.

One year ago: President Barack Obama, speaking in Nashua, N.H., branded Republicans as electoral opportunists more concerned about their own interests than the people's. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its 2009 Oscar nominees; in a first, 10 films were nominated for best picture instead of five, including eventual winner "The Hurt Locker." Movie producer David Brown, 93, died in New York.

Today's birthdays: Actress Elaine Stritch is 86. Former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing (val-eh-REE' ZHEES'-kahr deh-STANG') is 85. Actor Robert Mandan is 79. Comedian Tom Smothers is 74. Rock singer-guitarist Graham Nash is 69. Actor Bo Hopkins is 69. Television executive Barry Diller is 69. Country singer Howard Bellamy (The Bellamy Brothers) is 65. Actor Jack McGee is 62. Actor Brent Spiner (SPY'-nur) is 62. Rock musician Ross Valory (Journey) is 62. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is 59. Model Christie Brinkley is 57. Actor Michael Talbott is 56. Actress Kim Zimmer is 56. Rock musician Robert DeLeo (Army of Anyone; Stone Temple Pilots) is 45. Actress Jennifer Westfeldt is 41. Rock musician Ben Mize is 40. Rapper T-Mo is 39. Actress Marissa Jaret Winokur is 38. Actress Lori Beth Denberg is 35. Singer Shakira is 34. Country singer Blaine Larsen is 25.

Thought for today: "The great temptation is to have an alibi." -- George Abbott, American theatrical producer (1887-1995)

[Associated Press]

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