This day in history

[November 18, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Friday, Nov. 18, the 322nd day of 2011. There are 43 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Nov. 18, 1883, the United States and Canada adopted a system of Standard Time zones.

On this date:

In 1886, the 21st president of the United States, Chester A. Arthur, died in New York.

In 1910, British suffragists clashed with police outside Parliament on what became known as "Black Friday."

In 1928, Walt Disney's first sound-synchronized animated cartoon, "Steamboat Willie" starring Mickey Mouse, premiered in New York.

In 1936, Germany and Italy recognized the Spanish government of Francisco Franco.

In 1958, the cargo freighter SS Carl D. Bradley sank during a storm in Lake Michigan, claiming 33 of the 35 lives on board.

In 1966, U.S. Roman Catholic bishops did away with the rule against eating meat on Fridays outside of Lent.

In 1978, U.S. Rep. Leo J. Ryan, D-Calif., and four others were killed in Jonestown, Guyana, by members of the Peoples Temple; the killings were followed by a night of mass murder and suicide by more than 900 cult members.

In 1987, the congressional Iran-Contra committees issued their final report, saying President Ronald Reagan bore "ultimate responsibility" for wrongdoing by his aides.

In 1991, Shiite (SHEE'-eyet) Muslim kidnappers in Lebanon freed Anglican Church envoy Terry Waite and Thomas Sutherland, the American dean of agriculture at the American University of Beirut.

In 2000, actors Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were married in an extravagant wedding at The Plaza hotel in New York City.

Ten years ago: Phillips Petroleum Co. and Conoco Inc. announced they were merging in a deal to create the third-largest U.S. oil and gas company.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush, in Hanoi for a summit of Pacific Rim countries, lined up support for pressuring long-defiant North Korea to prove it was serious about dismantling its nuclear weapons program. In a fairy-tale setting, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes exchanged wedding vows in a glowing 15th-century castle in the medieval lakeside town of Bracciano, Italy.

One year ago: President Barack Obama rallied former diplomatic and military chiefs from both parties to pressure reluctant Republican senators into ratifying a nuclear weapons deal with Russia. (The Senate ratified the treaty the following month.) General Motors stock resumed trading on Wall Street, signaling the rebirth of an American corporate icon that had collapsed into bankruptcy and was rescued with a $50 billion infusion from taxpayers. Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners was chosen the AL Cy Young Award winner.

Today's birthdays: Actress Brenda Vaccaro is 72. Author-poet Margaret Atwood is 72. Actress Linda Evans is 69. Actress Susan Sullivan is 69. Country singer Jacky Ward is 65. Actor Jameson Parker is 64. Actress-singer Andrea Marcovicci is 63. Rock musician Herman Rarebell is 62. Singer Graham Parker is 61. Actor Delroy Lindo is 59. Comedian Kevin Nealon is 58. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon is 55. Actor Oscar Nunez is 53. Actress Elizabeth Perkins is 51. Singer Kim Wilde is 51. Rock musician Kirk Hammett (Metallica) is 49. Rock singer Tim DeLaughter (dee-LAW'-tur) is 46. Actor Romany Malco is 43. Actor Owen Wilson is 43. Singer Duncan Sheik is 42. Actor Mike Epps is 41. Actress Peta Wilson is 41. Actress Chloe Sevigny (SEH'-ven-ee) is 37. Country singer Jessi Alexander is 35. Actor Steven Pasquale is 35. Rapper Fabolous is 34. Actor Nate Parker is 32. Rapper Mike Jones is 31. Actor Damon Wayans Jr. is 29. Actor Nathan Kress is 19.

Thought for today: "'It can't happen here' is number one on the list of famous last words." -- David Crosby, rock singer-musician

[Associated Press]

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