Today in History

Today is Monday, Oct. 22, the 296th day of 2012. There are 70 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered a nationally broadcast address in which he publicly revealed the presence of Soviet-built missile bases under construction in Cuba and announced a quarantine of all offensive military equipment being shipped to the Communist island nation. Kennedy also called upon Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to "eliminate this clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace."

On this date:

In 1746, Princeton University was first chartered as the College of New Jersey.

In 1797, French balloonist Andre-Jacques Garnerin made the first parachute descent, landing safely from a height of about 3,000 feet over Paris.

In 1836, Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first constitutionally elected president of the Republic of Texas.

In 1883, the original Metropolitan Opera House in New York held its grand opening with a performance of Gounod's "Faust."

In 1928, Republican presidential nominee Herbert Hoover spoke of the "American system of rugged individualism" in a speech at New York's Madison Square Garden.

In 1934, bank robber Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd was shot to death by federal agents at a farm in East Liverpool, Ohio.

In 1953, the Franco-Lao Treaty of Amity and Association effectively made Laos an independent member of the French Union.

In 1962, the hit comedy album "The First Family," starring comedian-impressionist Vaughn Meader as President John F. Kennedy, was recorded before a studio audience in New York City.

In 1968, Apollo 7 returned safely from Earth orbit, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1979, the U.S. government allowed the deposed Shah of Iran to travel to New York for medical treatment -- a decision that precipitated the Iran hostage crisis. French conductor and music teacher Nadia Boulanger died in Paris.

In 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization was decertified by the federal government for its strike the previous August.

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed into law sweeping tax-overhaul legislation.

Ten years ago: Bus driver Conrad Johnson was shot to death in Aspen Hill, Md., in the final attack carried out by the "Beltway Snipers." Former CIA Director Richard Helms died in Washington, D.C. at age 89. The Anaheim Angels defeated the San Francisco Giants 10-4 to take a 2-games-to-1 edge in the World Series.

Five years ago: A federal judge in Dallas declared a mistrial for former leaders of the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation, a Muslim charity accused of funding terrorism. (The charity and five of its former leaders were convicted in a retrial the following year of funneling money to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.) China's Communist Party gave President Hu Jintao a second five-year term. Marie Osmond briefly fainted onstage during ABC's live broadcast of "Dancing With the Stars" after performing a samba with partner Jonathan Roberts.

One year ago: The Obama administration pulled U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford from Syria amid what were termed "credible threats against his personal safety." The heir to the Saudi throne, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdel Aziz Al Saud, died in New York. (He was succeeded as crown prince by his half-brother, Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz, who died in June 2012; Defense Minister Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz was then named the new heir to the throne.) Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal easily coasted to a second term in a landslide election. In the World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals romped past the Texas Rangers 16-7 for a 2-1 edge. Veteran CBS News correspondent Robert C. Pierpoint died in Santa Barbara, Calif., at age 86.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Joan Fontaine is 95. Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing is 93. Black Panthers co-founder Bobby Seale is 76. Actor Christopher Lloyd is 74. Actor Derek Jacobi is 74. Actor Tony Roberts is 73. Actress Annette Funicello is 70. Movie director Jan de Bont is 69. Actress Catherine Deneuve is 69. Rock musician Leslie West (Mountain) is 67. Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is 65. Actor Jeff Goldblum is 60. Movie director Bill Condon is 57. Actor Luis Guzman is 55. Actor-writer-producer Todd Graff is 53. Rock musician Cris Kirkwood is 52. Actor-comedian Bob Odenkirk is 50. Olympic gold medal figure skater Brian Boitano is 49. Christian singer TobyMac is 48. Singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding is 47. Actress Valeria Golino is 46. Comedian Carlos Mencia is 45. Country singer Shelby Lynne is 44. Reggae rapper Shaggy is 44. Movie director Spike Jonze is 43. Rapper Tracey Lee is 42. Actress Saffron Burrows is 40. MLB player Ichiro Suzuki is 39. Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson is 37. Actor Michael Fishman is 31. Talk show host Michael Essany is 30. Rock musician Rickard (correct) Goransson (Carolina Liar) is 29. Rock musician Zac Hanson (Hanson) is 27. Actor Jonathan Lipnicki is 22. Actress Sofia Vassilieva is 20.

Thought for Today: "Life is easier to take than you'd think; all that is necessary is to accept the impossible, do without the indispensable and bear the intolerable." -- Kathleen Norris, American author (1880-1960).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.