Today in History

Today is Saturday, Oct. 27, the 301st day of 2012. There are 65 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 27, 1787, the first of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays calling for ratification of the United States Constitution, was published under the pseudonym "Publius" (the essays were a collaborative effort by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay).

On this date:

In 1795, the United States and Spain signed the Treaty of San Lorenzo (also known as Pinckney's Treaty), which provided for free navigation of the Mississippi River.

In 1858, the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was born in New York City.

In 1880, Theodore Roosevelt married his first wife, Alice Lee.

In 1886 (New Style date), the musical fantasy "A Night on Bald Mountain," written by Modest Mussorgsky and revised after his death by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, was performed in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In 1904, the first rapid transit subway, the IRT, was inaugurated in New York City.

In 1922, the first annual celebration of Navy Day took place.

In 1938, Du Pont announced a name for its new synthetic yarn: "nylon."

In 1947, "You Bet Your Life," starring Groucho Marx, premiered on ABC Radio. (It later became a television show on NBC.)

In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft was shot down while flying over Cuba, killing the pilot, U.S. Air Force Maj. Rudolf Anderson Jr.

In 1971, the Democratic Republic of Congo was renamed the Republic of Zaire (but it went back to its previous name in 1997).

In 1978, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin were named winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their progress toward achieving a Middle East accord.

In 1992, Petty Officer Allen Schindler, a gay U.S. Navy sailor, was beaten to death near Sasebo Naval Base in southwestern Japan by shipmate Terry Helvey, who pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Ten years ago: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was elected president of Brazil in a runoff, becoming the country's first elected leftist leader. Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith broke the NFL career rushing yardage record held by the late Walter Payton as he reached 16,728 yards in a game against the Seattle Seahawks, who won, 17-14. The Anaheim Angels won the World Series, beating the San Francisco Giants 4-1 in Game 7.

Five years ago: Despite significant dissent in the ranks, United Auto Workers members narrowly passed a four-year contract agreement with Chrysler LLC. The Boston Red Sox took a 3-0 World Series lead with a 10-5 win over the Colorado Rockies in Denver.

One year ago: European leaders clinched a deal they hoped would mark a turning point in their two-year debt crisis, agreeing to have banks take bigger losses on Greece's debts and to boost the region's weapons against market turmoil. The St. Louis Cardinals stunned the Texas Rangers 10-9 with an 11th inning homer by David Freese, forcing the World Series to a seventh game.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Nanette Fabray is 92. Baseball Hall-of-Famer and sportscaster Ralph Kiner is 90. Actress Ruby Dee is 88. Actor-comedian John Cleese is 73. Author Maxine Hong Kingston is 72. Country singer Lee Greenwood is 70. Producer-director Ivan Reitman is 66. Country singer-musician Jack Daniels is 63. Rock musician Garry Tallent (Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band) is 63. Author Fran Lebowitz is 62. Rock musician K.K. Downing is 61. TV personality Jayne Kennedy is 61. Actor-director Roberto Benigni is 60. Actor Peter Firth is 59. Actor Robert Picardo is 59. World Golf Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan is 56. Singer Simon Le Bon is 54. Country musician Jerry Dale McFadden (The Mavericks) is 48. Internet news editor Matt Drudge is 46. Rock musician Jason Finn (Presidents of the United States of America) is 45. Rock singer Scott Weiland is 45. Actor Sean Holland is 44. Actress Sheeri Rappaport is 35. Violinist Vanessa-Mae is 34. Actress-singer Kelly Osbourne is 28.

Thought for Today: "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." -- Theodore Roosevelt, American president (1858-1919).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.