Today in History

Today is Sunday, Aug. 5, the 218th day of 2012. There are 148 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Aug. 5, 1962, actress Marilyn Monroe, 36, was found dead in her Los Angeles home; her death was ruled a probable suicide from "acute barbiturate poisoning."

On this date:

In 1864, during the Civil War, Union Adm. David G. Farragut led his fleet to victory in the Battle of Mobile Bay, Ala.

In 1884, the cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty's pedestal was laid on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor.

In 1912, the Progressive Party, also known as the "Bull Moose Party," convened in Chicago. (The party was formed by former President Theodore Roosevelt following a split in the Republican Party.)

In 1921, a baseball game was broadcast for the first time as KDKA radio announcer Harold Arlin described the action between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies from Forbes Field. (The Pirates won, 8-5.)

In 1924, the comic strip "Little Orphan Annie" by Harold Gray made its debut.

In 1936, Jesse Owens of the United States won the 200-meter dash at the Berlin Olympics, collecting the third of his four gold medals.

In 1953, Operation Big Switch began as prisoners taken during the Korean conflict were exchanged at Panmunjom.

In 1961, the amusement park Six Flags Over Texas had its official grand opening day in Arlington.

In 1962, South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was arrested on charges of leaving the country without a passport and inciting workers to strike; it was the beginning of 27 years of imprisonment.

In 1963, the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union signed a treaty in Moscow banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, in space and underwater.

In 1969, the U.S. space probe Mariner 7 flew by Mars, sending back photographs and scientific data.

In 1981, the federal government began firing air traffic controllers who had gone out on strike.

Ten years ago: Israeli helicopters fired missiles at a suspected weapons factory in Gaza City following attacks that killed 13 people in 24 hours. The coral-encrusted gun turret of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor was raised from the floor of the Atlantic, nearly 140 years after the historic warship sank during a storm. Death claimed Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn at age 85; former "Sesame Street" cast member Matt Robinson at age 65; and soap opera actor Joshua Ryan Evans at age 20.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai began meeting at Camp David to discuss security issues in Afghanistan. Lorena Ochoa won the Women's British Open -- the first women's professional tournament played at venerable St. Andrews -- for her first major title. Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, one of the most influential Roman Catholic figures in France, died in Paris at age 80. Comedian Stanley Myron Handelman died in Panorama City, Calif., at age 77.

One year ago: Standard & Poor's lowered the United States' AAA credit rating by one notch to AA-plus. A federal jury convicted three New Orleans police officers, a former officer and a retired sergeant of civil rights violations in the 2005 shooting deaths of a teenager and a mentally disabled man crossing a bridge following Hurricane Katrina. A sun-powered robotic explorer named Juno rocketed toward Jupiter on a five-year quest to discover the secret recipe for making planets.

Today's Birthdays: Former astronaut Neil A. Armstrong is 82. Actor John Saxon is 76. College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL player Roman Gabriel is 72. Country songwriter Bobby Braddock is 72. Rock musician Rick Huxley (The Dave Clark Five) is 72. Actress Loni Anderson is 67. Actress Erika Slezak is 66. Rock singer Rick Derringer is 65. Actress Holly Palance is 62. Singer Samantha Sang is 59. Actress-singer Maureen McCormick is 56. Rock musician Pat Smear is 53. Actress Tawney Kitaen is 51. Actress Janet McTeer is 51. Country musician Mark O'Connor is 51. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Patrick Ewing is 50. Actor Jonathan Silverman is 46. Country singer Terri Clark is 44. Former MLB player John Olerud is 44. Rock musician Eicca Toppinen (EYE'-kah TAH'-pihn-nehn) (Apocalyptica) is 37. Actor Brendon Ryan Barrett is 26.

Thought for Today: "For life: It is rather a determination not to be overwhelmed. For work: The truth can only be recalled, never invented." -- Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.