Today in History

Today is Sunday, Sept. 30, the 274th day of 2012. There are 92 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Sept. 30, 1962, James Meredith, a black student, was escorted by federal marshals to the campus of the University of Mississippi, where he enrolled for classes the next day; Meredith's presence sparked rioting that claimed two lives. In an address to the nation, President John F. Kennedy expressed hope that the school, the state of Mississippi and the nation would "return to their normal activities with full confidence in the integrity of American law."

On this date:

In 1777, the Continental Congress -- forced to flee in the face of advancing British forces -- moved to York, Pa.

In 1791, Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute" premiered in Vienna, Austria.

In 1846, Boston dentist William Morton used ether as an anesthetic for the first time as he extracted an ulcerated tooth from merchant Eben Frost.

In 1912, the Columbia Journalism School in New York held its first classes.

In 1938, after co-signing the Munich Agreement allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain said, "I believe it is peace for our time."

In 1949, the Berlin Airlift came to an end.

In 1952, the motion picture "This Is Cinerama," which introduced the triple-camera, triple-projector Cinerama widescreen process, premiered at the Broadway Theatre in New York.

In 1954, the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, was commissioned by the Navy.

In 1955, actor James Dean, 24, was killed in a two-car collision near Cholame, Calif.

In 1962, the National Farm Workers Association, founded by Cesar Chavez and a forerunner of the United Farm Workers, held its first meeting in Fresno, Calif.

In 1982, the situation comedy "Cheers" premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1986, the U.S. released accused Soviet spy Gennadiy Zakharov, one day after the Soviets released American journalist Nicholas Daniloff.

Ten years ago: New Jersey Senator Robert Torricelli abruptly ended his scandal-tainted re-election campaign just five weeks before the election, leaving Democrats scrambling for a replacement candidate.

Five years ago: A U.N. envoy failed to meet with Myanmar's top two junta leaders in his effort to persuade them to ease a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters, but was allowed a highly orchestrated session with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan hanged a teenager found to have U.S. money in his pocket as a warning to others not to use dollars. The United States won the Presidents Cup in Montreal, 19 1/2-14 1/2, giving them a victory on foreign soil in cup competition for the first time since 1993. Germany defeated Brazil 2-0 in the final of the Women's World Cup held in Shanghai, China.

One year ago: A U.S. drone airstrike in Yemen killed two American members of al-Qaida, cleric Anwar al-Awlaki and recruiting magazine editor Samir Khan.

Today's Birthdays: Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel is 84. Actress Angie Dickinson is 81. Singer Cissy Houston is 79. Singer Johnny Mathis is 77. Actor Len Cariou is 73. Singer Marilyn McCoo is 69. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is 67. Pop singer Sylvia Peterson (The Chiffons) is 66. Actor Vondie Curtis-Hall is 62. Actress Victoria Tennant is 62. Actor John Finn is 60. Rock musician John Lombardo is 60. Singer Deborah Allen is 59. Actor Calvin Levels is 58. Actor Barry Williams is 58. Singer Patrice Rushen is 58. Actress Fran Drescher is 55. Country singer Marty Stuart is 54. Actress Debrah Farentino is 53. Rock musician Bill Rieflin (R.E.M.) is 52. Former Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., is 52. Actress Crystal Bernard is 51. Actor Eric Stoltz is 51. Rapper-producer Marley Marl is 50. Country singer Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery-Gentry) is 49. Rock singer Trey Anastasio is 48. Actress Monica Bellucci is 48. Rock musician Robby Takac (Goo Goo Dolls) is 48. Actress Lisa Thornhill is 46. Actress Andrea Roth is 45. Actor Tony Hale is 42. Actress Jenna Elfman is 41. Actor Ashley Hamilton is 38. Actress Marion Cotillard is 37. Actor Stark Sands is 34. Actor Mike Damus is 33. Tennis player Martina Hingis is 32. Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Moceanu is 31. Actress Lacey Chabert is 30. Actor Kieran Culkin is 30. Singer-rapper T-Pain is 28.

Thought for Today: "Nothing you can't spell will ever work." -- Will Rogers, American humorist (1879-1935).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.