Today in History

Today is Tuesday, Nov. 15, the 319th day of 2011. There are 46 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 15, 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation.

On this date:

In 1806, explorer Zebulon Pike sighted the mountaintop now known as Pikes Peak in present-day Colorado.

In 1889, Brazil was proclaimed a republic as its emperor, Dom Pedro II, was overthrown.

In 1935, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was established as its new president, Manuel L. Quezon, took office.

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In 1948, William Lyon Mackenzie King retired as prime minister of Canada after 21 years; he was succeeded by Louis St. Laurent.

In 1961, former Argentine President Juan Peron, living in exile in Spain, married his third wife, Isabel.

In 1966, the flight of Gemini 12 ended successfully as astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. splashed down safely in the Atlantic.

In 1969, a quarter of a million protesters staged a peaceful demonstration in Washington against the Vietnam War.

In 1979, the British government publicly identified Sir Anthony Blunt as the "fourth man" of a Soviet spy ring.

In 1985, Britain and Ireland signed an accord giving Dublin an official consultative role in governing Northern Ireland.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to resolve their dispute over U.S. missile shield plans but pledged to fight terrorism and deepen U.S.-Russian ties as their summit, which began at the White House before shifting to Bush's Texas ranch, came to a close.

Five years ago: O.J. Simpson caused an uproar with plans for a TV interview and book titled "If I Did It," in which Simpson describes how he would have committed the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. (The project was scrapped after an outcry condemning it as revolting and exploitive.) One of four U.S. soldiers accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her and her family pleaded guilty at Fort Campbell, Ky. (Spc. James P. Barker, who agreed to testify against the others, was later sentenced to 90 years in prison.) Emmitt Smith was named winner of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" with his professional dance partner, Cheryl Burke.

One year ago: A House ethics committee panel began closed-door deliberations on 13 counts of alleged financial and fundraising misconduct by U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., who walked out of the proceeding after pleading unsuccessfully for more time to raise money for a lawyer. (Rangel was convicted the next day of 11 rules violations.) San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey and Texas Rangers closer Neftali Feliz were voted the Rookies of the Year.

Today's Birthdays: Judge Joseph Wapner is 92. Statesman Howard H. Baker Jr. is 86. Actor Ed Asner is 82. Actor John Kerr is 80. Singer Petula Clark is 79. Comedian Jack Burns is 78. Actress Joanna Barnes is 77. Actor Yaphet Kotto is 72. Actor Sam Waterston is 71. Classical conductor Daniel Barenboim is 69. Pop singer Frida (ABBA) is 66. Actor Bob Gunton is 66. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is 64. Director-actor James Widdoes is 58. Rock singer-producer Mitch Easter is 57. Fox News reporter John Roberts is 55. Former "Jay Leno Show" bandleader Kevin Eubanks is 54. Comedian Judy Gold is 49. Actress Rachel True is 45. Rapper E-40 is 44. Country singer Jack Ingram is 41. Actor Jay Harrington is 40. Actor Jonny Lee Miller is 39. Actress Sydney Tamiia Poitier is 38. Christian rock musician David Carr (Third Day) is 37. Rock singer-musician Chad Kroeger is 37. Rock musician Jesse Sandoval is 37. Actress Virginie Ledoyen is 35. Actor Sean Murray (TV: "NCIS") is 34. Pop singer Ace Young (TV: "American Idol") is 31. Golfer Lorena Ochoa is 30. Actress Shailene Woodley is 20.

Thought for Today: "To oppose something is to maintain it." -- Ursula K. LeGuin, American writer.

Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.