Today in History

Today is Thursday, Oct. 25, the 299th day of 2012. There are 67 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 25, 1962, in a dramatic confrontation before the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson II demanded that Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin confirm or deny the existence of Soviet-built missile bases in Cuba; when Zorin declined to respond, Stevenson said he was prepared to wait "until hell freezes over" for an answer. Stevenson then presented photographic evidence of the bases to the Council.

On this date:

In 1760, Britain's King George III succeeded his late grandfather, George II.

In 1812, the frigate USS United States, commanded by Stephen Decatur, captured the British vessel HMS Macedonian during the War of 1812.

In 1854, the "Charge of the Light Brigade" took place during the Crimean War as an English brigade of more than 600 men charged the Russian army, suffering heavy losses.

In 1912, the song "My Melancholy Baby" by Ernie Burnett and George Norton was first published under the title "Melancholy." Country comedian Minnie Pearl was born Sarah Ophelia Colley in Centerville, Tenn.

In 1929, former Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall was convicted in Washington, D.C., of accepting a $100,000 bribe from oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny. (Fall was sentenced to a year in prison and fined $100,000; he ended up serving nine months.)

In 1939, the play "The Time of Your Life," by William Saroyan, opened in New York.

In 1945, Taiwan became independent of Japanese colonial rule.

In 1957, mob boss Albert Anastasia of "Murder Inc." notoriety was shot to death by masked gunmen in a barber shop inside the Park Sheraton Hotel in New York.

In 1962, American author John Steinbeck was named winner of the Nobel Prize in literature.

In 1971, the U.N. General Assembly voted to admit mainland China and expel Taiwan.

In 1982, the situation comedy "Newhart," starring Bob Newhart as a Vermont innkeeper, premiered on CBS.

In 1992, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Roger Miller, 56, died in Los Angeles.

Ten years ago: U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., was killed in the crash of a private plane in northern Minnesota along with his wife, Sheila, daughter Marcia and five others, a week and a-half before Election Day; he was 58. Actor Richard Harris died in London at age 72.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush visited Southern California, telling residents weary from five days of wildfires: "We're not going to forget you in Washington, D.C." The Boston Red Sox beat the Colorado Rockies 2-1 at Fenway to take a 2-0 World Series lead.

One year ago: Deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his son Muatassim and former Defense Minister Abu Bakr Younis were buried at dawn in a secret location, five days after Gadhafi was slain by revolutionary fighters.

Today's Birthdays: Former American League President and Baseball Hall of Famer Lee MacPhail is 95. Former American League president Dr. Bobby Brown is 88. Singer-actress Barbara Cook is 85. Actress Jeanne Cooper is 84. Actress Marion Ross is 84. Country singer Jeanne Black is 75. Basketball Hall of Famer Bobby Knight is 72. Author Anne Tyler is 71. Rock singer Jon Anderson (Yes) is 68. Political strategist James Carville is 68. Singer Taffy Danoff (Starland Vocal Band) is 68. Rock musician Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest) is 65. Actor Brian Kerwin is 63. Actor Mark L. Taylor is 62. Movie director Julian Schnabel is 61. Rock musician Matthias Jabs is 56. Actress Nancy Cartwright ("The Simpsons") is 55. Country singer Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown) is 54. Rock musician Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers; Chickenfoot) is 51. Actress Tracy Nelson is 49. Actor Michael Boatman is 48. Actor Kevin Michael Richardson is 48. Singer Speech is 44. Actor Adam Goldberg is 42. Actor-singer Adam Pascal is 42. Rock musician Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies) is 42. Actress Persia White is 42. Country singer Chely Wright is 42. Violinist Midori is 41. Actor Craig Robinson is 41. Actor Michael Weston is 39. Actor Zachary Knighton is 34. Actor Mehcad Brooks is 32. Actor Ben Gould is 32. Actor Josh Henderson is 31. Rhythm-and-blues singer Young Rome is 31. Pop singer Katy Perry is 28. Rock singer Austin Winkler (Hinder) is 28. Singer Ciara is 27. Actress Conchita Campbell ("The 4400") is 17.

Thought for Today: "You can tell the size of a man by the size of the thing that makes him mad." -- Adlai E. Stevenson II, American statesman (1900-1965).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.