Today in History

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 4, the 248th day of 2012. There are 118 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Sept. 4, 1962, The Beatles, with their new drummer, Ringo Starr, recorded "Love Me Do" at EMI Studios in London. (The more familiar version with substitute drummer Andy White and Starr playing the tambourine was recorded a week later.)

On this date:

In 1781, Los Angeles was founded by Spanish settlers under the leadership of Governor Felipe de Neve.

In 1862, during the Civil War, Confederate forces led by Gen. Robert E. Lee began invading Maryland.

In 1886, a group of Apache Indians led by Geronimo (also known as Goyathlay, "One Who Yawns") surrendered to Gen. Nelson Miles at Skeleton Canyon in Arizona.

In 1893, English author Beatrix Potter first told the story of Peter Rabbit in the form of a "picture letter" to Noel Moore, the son of Potter's former governess.

In 1917, the American Expeditionary Forces in France suffered their first fatalities during World War I when a German plane attacked a British-run base hospital.

In 1948, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands abdicated after nearly six decades of rule for health reasons.

In 1951, President Harry S. Truman addressed the nation from the Japanese peace treaty conference in San Francisco in the first live, coast-to-coast television broadcast.

In 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus used Arkansas National Guardsmen to prevent nine black students from entering all-white Central High School in Little Rock. Ford Motor Co. began selling its ill-fated Edsel.

In 1969, the Food and Drug Administration issued a report calling birth control pills "safe," despite a slight risk of fatal blood-clotting disorders linked to the pills.

In 1971, an Alaska Airlines jet crashed near Juneau, killing all 111 people on board.

In 1972, U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz won a seventh gold medal at the Munich Olympics, in the 400-meter medley relay. "The New Price Is Right," hosted by Bob Barker, premiered on CBS. (The game show later dropped the "New" from its title and expanded from a half-hour to an hour.)

In 1987, a Soviet court convicted West German pilot Mathias Rust of charges stemming from his daring flight to Moscow's Red Square, and sentenced him to four years in a labor camp. (Rust was released in Aug. 1988.)

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush promised to seek Congress' approval for "whatever is necessary" to oust Saddam Hussein, including using military force. Secretary of State Colin Powell was heckled by dozens of activists on the closing day of the World Summit in South Africa. Texas cocktail waitress and aspiring pop star Kelly Clarkson was crowned the first "American Idol" on Fox Television.

Five years ago: Hurricane Felix slammed into Nicaragua's coast, the first time on record that two Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes hit land in the same year. Toy maker Mattel Inc. recalled 800,000 lead-tainted, Chinese-made toys worldwide, a third major recall in just over a month.

One year ago: Jerry Lewis was conspicuously absent from the Muscular Dystrophy Association's 46th annual Labor Day weekend telethon, having hosted the previous 45 broadcasts.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Mitzi Gaynor is 81. Actor Kenneth Kimmins is 71. Singer Merald "Bubba" Knight (Gladys Knight & The Pips) is 70. World Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd is 70. Actress Jennifer Salt is 68. World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Watson is 63. Rhythm-and-blues musician Ronald LaPread is 62. Actress Judith Ivey is 61. Rock musician Martin Chambers (The Pretenders) is 61. Actress Khandi Alexander is 55. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans is 52. Rock musician Kim Thayil is 52. Actor Richard Speight Jr. is 43. Actor Noah Taylor is 43. Actress Ione Skye is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer Richard Wingo (Jagged Edge) is 37. Actor Wes Bentley is 34. Actor Max Greenfield is 33. Singer Dan Miller ("Making the Band") is 32. Singer Beyonce Knowles is 31. Country singer-musician Tom Gossin (Gloriana) is 31. Actor Carter Jenkins is 21. Actor Trevor Gagnon is 17.

Thought for Today: "Don't leave inferences to be drawn when evidence can be presented." -- Richard Wright, American author (1908-1960).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.