Today in History

Today is Thursday, Dec. 1, the 335th day of 2011. There are 30 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Dec. 1, 1941, Japan's Emperor Hirohito approved waging war against the United States, Britain and the Netherlands after his government rejected U.S. demands contained in the Hull Note, including a call for Japan to withdraw all of its forces from China and French Indochina.

On this date:

In 1824, the presidential election was turned over to the U.S. House of Representatives when a deadlock developed between John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford and Henry Clay. (Adams ended up the winner.)

In 1860, the Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations" was first published in weekly serial form.

In 1909, the first kibbutz was founded in the Jordan Valley by a group of Jewish pioneers; the collective settlement became known as Degania Alef.

In 1921, the Navy flew the first nonrigid dirigible to use helium; the C-7 traveled from Hampton Roads, Va., to Washington, D.C.

In 1934, Soviet communist official Sergei M. Kirov, an associate of Josef Stalin, was assassinated in Leningrad, resulting in a massive purge.

In 1955, Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, was arrested after refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Ala., city bus; the incident sparked a year-long boycott of the buses by blacks.

In 1969, the U.S. government held its first draft lottery since World War II.

In 1973, David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, died in Tel Aviv at age 87.

In 1990, British and French workers digging the Channel Tunnel between their countries finally met after knocking out a passage in a service tunnel.

In 1991, Ukrainians voted overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union.

Ten years ago: Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in back-to-back explosions at a downtown Jerusalem pedestrian mall, killing 11 bystanders. A baby girl was born to Japan's Crown Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito, the royal couple's first child in eight years of marriage; she was later named Aiko.

Five years ago: Felipe Calderon took the oath of office as Mexico's president amid catcalls and brawling lawmakers, a chaotic start to a term in which he pledged to heal a country divided by his narrow victory. Officials reported that Typhoon Durian had killed as many as 200 people when it tore through the eastern Philippines (the storm was eventually blamed for 1,399 deaths).

One year ago: President Barack Obama's bipartisan deficit commission unveiled its recommendations including lower income taxes, fewer tax breaks and higher age for retirement benefits (however, the panel failed to advance the package to Congress two days later by a vote of 11 in favor, 7 against, falling short of the 14 votes needed). LPGA players meeting in Orlando, Fla., voted to allow transgender players to compete on tour.

Today's Birthdays: Former CIA director Stansfield Turner is 88. Singer Billy Paul is 77. Actor-director Woody Allen is 76. World Golf Hall of Famer Lee Trevino is 72. Singer Dianne Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 72. Country musician Casey Van Beek (The Tractors) is 69. Television producer David Salzman is 68. Rock singer-musician Eric Bloom (Blue Oyster Cult) is 67. Rock musician John Densmore (The Doors) is 67. Actress-singer Bette Midler is 66. Singer Gilbert O'Sullivan is 65. Actor Treat Williams is 60. Country singer Kim Richey is 55. Actress Charlene Tilton is 53. Actress-model Carol Alt is 51. Actor Jeremy Northam is 50. Producer-director Andrew Adamson is 45. Actor Nestor Carbonell is 44. Actress Golden Brooks is 41. Actress-comedian Sarah Silverman is 41. Actor Ron Melendez is 39. Contemporary Christian singer Bart Millard is 39. Actor-writer-producer David Hornsby is 36. Singer Sarah Masen is 36. Rock musician Brad Delson (Linkin Park) is 34. Actor Nate Torrence is 34. Rock/Christian music singer-songwriter Mat Kearney is 33. Rock musician Mika Fineo (Filter) is 30. Actress Ashley Monique Clark is 23.

Thought for Today: "I got a simple rule about everybody. If you don't treat me right, shame on you." -- Louis Armstrong, American jazz musician (1900-1971).

Copyright 2011, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.