Today in History

Today is Friday, Oct. 28, the 301st day of 2011. 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 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.

In 1991, what became known as "The Perfect Storm" began forming hundreds of miles east of Nova Scotia; lost at sea during the storm were the six crew members of the Andrea Gail, a sword-fishing boat from Gloucester, Mass.

Ten years ago: The families of people killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack gathered in New York for a memorial service filled with prayer and song. Gunmen killed 16 people in a church in Behawalpur, Pakistan. United Airlines replaced embattled chairman and chief executive James Goodwin with board member John Creighton. The Arizona Diamondbacks gained a two-games-to-none lead in the World Series, defeating the New York Yankees 4-0.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush spoke by video conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as he sought to reaffirm support for the Iraqi leader. Former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was found dead in a Jamaican church courtyard, the victim of a fatal beating. (A 21-year-old nephew and another man were later convicted of killing Berbick.) Basketball Hall-of-Fame coach Red Auerbach died in Washington, D.C., at age 89.

One year ago: Investigators with the president's oil spill commission said tests performed before the deadly blowout of BP's oil well in the Gulf of Mexico should have raised doubts about the cement used to seal the well, but that the company and its cementing contractor used it anyway. (The cement mix's failure to prevent oil and gas from entering the well has been cited by BP and others as one of the causes of the accident.) Caroline Wozniacki wrapped up the year-end No. 1 ranking after rallying to beat Francesca Schiavone 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at the WTA Championships in Doha, Qatar. Stage and screen actor James MacArthur, who played "Danno" in the original version of television's "Hawaii Five-0," died in Jacksonville, Fla., at age 72.

Today's Birthdays: Jazz singer Cleo Laine is 84. Actress Joan Plowright is 82. Musician-songwriter Charlie Daniels is 75. Actress Jane Alexander is 72. Singer Curtis Lee is 70. Actor Dennis Franz is 67. Pop singer Wayne Fontana is 66. Actress Telma Hopkins is 63. Olympic track and field gold medalist Bruce Jenner is 62. Actress Annie Potts is 59. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is 56. The president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is 55. Rock musician Stephen Morris (New Order) is 54. Country/gospel singer-musician Ron Hemby (The Buffalo Club) is 53. Rock singer-musician William Reid (The Jesus & Mary Chain) is 53. Actor Mark Derwin is 51. Actress Daphne Zuniga is 49. Actress Lauren Holly is 48. Actress Jami Gertz is 46. Actor Chris Bauer is 45. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 45. Actress Julia Roberts is 44. Country singer-musician Caitlin Cary is 43. Actor Jeremy Davies is 42. Singer Ben Harper is 42. Country singer Brad Paisley is 39. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 37. Singer Justin Guarini ("American Idol") is 33. Pop singer Brett Dennen is 32. Rock musician Dave Tirio (Plain White T's) is 32. Actress Troian Bellisario is 26. Actor Nolan Gould (TV: "Modern Family") is 13.

Thought for Today: "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." -- George Orwell (Eric Blair), English author (1903-1950).

Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.