Today in History

Today is Friday, Oct. 5, the 279th day of 2012. There are 87 days left in the year.

Today's Highlights in History:

On Oct. 5, 1962, The Beatles' first hit recording, "Love Me Do," was released in the United Kingdom by Parlophone Records. The first James Bond theatrical feature, "Dr. No" starring Sean Connery as Agent 007, premiered in London.

On this date:

In 1829, the 21st president of the United States, Chester Alan Arthur, was born in Fairfield, Vt. (Some sources list 1830.)

In 1892, the Dalton Gang, notorious for its train robberies, was practically wiped out while attempting to rob a pair of banks in Coffeyville, Kan.

In 1910, Portugal was proclaimed a republic following the abdication of King Manuel II in the face of a coup d'etat.

In 1921, the World Series was covered on radio for the first time as Newark, N.J., station WJZ relayed reports from the Polo Grounds, where the New York Giants were facing the New York Yankees. (Although the Yankees won the opener, 3-0, the Giants won the series, 5 games to 3.)

In 1931, Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon completed the first non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean, arriving in Washington state some 41 hours after leaving Japan.

In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, speaking in Chicago, called for a "quarantine" of aggressor nations.

In 1941, former Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis -- the first Jewish member of the nation's highest court -- died in Washington at age 84.

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman delivered the first televised White House address as he spoke on the world food crisis.

In 1953, Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th chief justice of the United States, succeeding Fred M. Vinson.

In 1970, British trade commissioner James Richard Cross was kidnapped in Canada by militant Quebec separatists; he was released the following December.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution granting honorary American citizenship to Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, credited with saving thousands of Hungarians, most of them Jews, from the Nazis during World War II.

In 1988, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen lambasted Republican Dan Quayle during their vice-presidential debate, telling Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

Ten years ago: Addressing police and National Guardsmen in New Hampshire, President George W. Bush warned that Saddam Hussein could strike without notice and inflict "massive and sudden horror" on America. Bosnia's three nationalist parties beat moderates in the country's first self-organized elections since the 1992-1995 war.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush defended his administration's methods of detaining and questioning terrorism suspects, saying both were successful and lawful. Topps Meat Co. said it was closing its business, six days after it was forced to issue a massive beef recall. Track star Marion Jones pleaded guilty in White Plains, N.Y., to lying to federal investigators when she denied using performance-enhancing drugs, and announced her retirement after the hearing.

One year ago: Steve Jobs, 56, the Apple founder and former chief executive who invented and master-marketed ever sleeker gadgets that transformed everyday technology from the personal computer to the iPod and iPhone, died in Palo Alto, Calif. Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth, 89, a civil rights activist who endured arrests, beatings and injuries from fire hoses while fighting for racial equality in the segregated South of the 1960s, died in Birmingham, Ala.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Glynis Johns is 89. Comedian Bill Dana is 88. College Football Hall of Fame coach Barry Switzer is 75. Rhythm-and-blues singer Arlene Smith (The Chantels) is 71. Singer Richard Street is 70. Singer-musician Steve Miller is 69. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., is 69. Rock singer Brian Johnson (AC/DC) is 65. Actress Karen Allen is 61. Writer-producer-director Clive Barker is 60. Rock musician David Bryson (Counting Crows) is 58. Rock singer and famine-relief organizer Bob Geldof is 58. Architect Maya Lin is 53. Actor Daniel Baldwin is 52. Rock singer-musician Dave Dederer is 48. Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux is 47. Actor Guy Pearce is 45. Actress Josie Bissett is 42. Singer-actress Heather Headley is 38. Pop-rock singer Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) is 38. Rock musician Brian Mashburn (Save Ferris) is 37. Actress Parminder Nagra is 37. Actor Scott Weinger is 37. Actress Kate Winslet is 37. Rock musician James Valentine (Maroon 5) is 34. Rock musician Paul Thomas (Good Charlotte) is 32. Actor Jesse Eisenberg is 29. TV personality Nicky Hilton is 29. Rhythm-and-blues singer Brooke Valentine is 27. Actor Joshua Logan Moore is 18.

Thought for Today: "My friends are my 'estate.' Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them." -- Emily Dickinson, American poet (1830-1886).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.