Today in History

Today is Monday, July 9, the 191st day of 2012. There are 175 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On July 9, 1962, the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles began exhibiting pop artist Andy Warhol's now-famous set of 32 paintings of Campbell's soup cans.

On this date:

In 1540, England's King Henry VIII had his 6-month-old marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, annulled.

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington's troops in New York.

In 1816, Argentina declared independence from Spain.

In 1850, the 12th president of the United States, Zachary Taylor, died after serving only 16 months of his term. (He was succeeded by Millard Fillmore.)

In 1896, William Jennings Bryan delivered his famous "cross of gold" speech at the Democratic national convention in Chicago.

In 1918, 101 people were killed in a train collision in Nashville, Tenn. The Distinguished Service Cross was established by an Act of Congress.

In 1947, the engagement of Britain's Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced.

In 1951, President Harry S. Truman asked Congress to formally end the state of war between the United States and Germany. (An official end to the state of war was declared in October 1951.)

In 1974, former U.S. Chief Justice Earl Warren died in Washington, D.C. at age 83.

In 1982, Pan Am Flight 759, a Boeing 727, crashed in Kenner, La., killing all 145 people aboard and eight people on the ground.

In 1986, the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography released the final draft of its report, which linked hard-core porn to sex crimes.

In 1992, Democrat Bill Clinton tapped Tennessee Sen. Al Gore to be his running mate. Former CBS News commentator Eric Sevareid died in Washington at age 79.

Ten years ago: The Senate voted to entomb thousands of tons of radioactive waste inside Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert, rejecting the state's fervent protests. Speaking in New York, President George W. Bush called for doubled prison terms and aggressive policing to combat fraud and corruption in corporate America. African leaders launched the African Union. Baseball's All-Star game in Milwaukee finished in a 7-7 tie after eleven innings when both teams ran out of pitchers. Academy Award-winning actor Rod Steiger died in Los Angeles at age 77.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush directed former aides to defy congressional subpoenas, claiming executive privilege in resisting Congress' investigation into the firings of U.S. attorneys. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., whose telephone number had been disclosed by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the alleged "D.C. Madam," said in a statement he was sorry for a "serious sin" and that he'd already made peace with his wife. A jury convicted four Muslim militants of plotting to bomb London's public transport system. Character actor Charles Lane, 102, died in Santa Monica, Calif.

One year ago: South Sudan became the world's newest nation, officially breaking away from Sudan after two civil wars over five decades that had cost millions of lives. During his first visit to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that al-Qaida's defeat was "within reach." Derek Jeter homered for his 3,000th hit, making him the first player to reach the mark with the New York Yankees.

Today's Birthdays: Actor-singer Ed Ames is 85. Actor James Hampton is 76. Actor Brian Dennehy is 74. Actor Richard Roundtree is 70. Author Dean Koontz is 67. Football Hall-of-Famer O.J. Simpson is 65. Actor Chris Cooper is 61. TV personality John Tesh is 60. Country singer David Ball is 59. Rhythm-and-blues singer Debbie Sledge (Sister Sledge) is 58. Actor Jimmy Smits is 57. Actress Lisa Banes is 57. Actor Tom Hanks is 56. Singer Marc Almond is 55. Actress Kelly McGillis is 55. Rock singer Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) is 53. Actress-rock singer Courtney Love is 48. Rock musician Frank Bello (Anthrax) is 47. Actor David O'Hara is 47. Rock musician Xavier Muriel (Buckcherry) is 44. Actor Scott Grimes is 41. Actor Enrique Murciano is 39. Musician/producer Jack White is 37. Rock musician Dan Estrin (Hoobastank) is 36. Actor-director Fred Savage is 36. Country musician Pat Allingham is 34. Actress Megan Parlen is 32. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kiely Williams (3lw) is 26. Actor Mitchel (cq) Musso is 21. Actress Georgie Henley is 17.

Thought for Today: "They always say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -- Andy Warhol (1928-1987).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.