Today in History

Today is Sunday, Oct. 28, the 302nd day of 2012. There are 64 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 28, 1962, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the United States that he had ordered the dismantling of missile bases in Cuba; in exchange, the U.S. secretly agreed to remove nuclear missiles from U.S. installations in Turkey.

On this date:

In A.D. 312, Constantine I defeated Maxentius in the Battle of Milvian Bridge near Rome. (Maxentius drowned in the Tiber.)

In 1636, the General Court of Massachusetts passed a legislative act establishing Harvard College.

In 1776, the Battle of White Plains was fought during the Revolutionary War, resulting in a limited British victory.

In 1858, Rowland Hussey Macy opened his first New York store at Sixth Avenue and 14th Street in Manhattan.

In 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland.

In 1919, Congress enacted the Volstead Act, which provided for enforcement of Prohibition, over President Woodrow Wilson's veto.

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rededicated the Statue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary.

In 1940, Italy invaded Greece during World War II.

In 1958, the Roman Catholic patriarch of Venice, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was elected Pope; he took the name John XXIII.

In 1972, the Airbus A300 made its debut flight in Toulouse, France.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter and Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan faced off in a nationally broadcast, 90-minute debate in Cleveland.

In 1991, what became known as "The Perfect Storm" began forming hundreds of miles east of Nova Scotia; lost at sea during the storm were the six crew members of the Andrea Gail, a sword-fishing boat from Gloucester, Mass.

Ten years ago: American diplomat Laurence Foley was assassinated in front of his house in Amman, Jordan, in the first such attack on a U.S. diplomat in decades. Russian President Vladimir Putin led a national day of mourning as relatives and friends grieved for the more than 100 captives who died in the siege at a Moscow theater. A student flunking out of the University of Arizona nursing school shot three of his professors to death, then killed himself.

Five years ago: Stacy Peterson, the 23-year-old fourth wife of police sergeant Drew Peterson, went missing in suburban Chicago. (Her fate has never been determined; Drew Peterson was convicted in Sept. 2012 of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio.) Fire ravaged a North Carolina beach house, killing seven college students. Argentina's first lady, Cristina Fernandez, claimed victory in the country's presidential election; she became the first woman elected to the post. The Boston Red Sox swept to their second World Series title in four years with a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies in Game 4. Country star Porter Wagoner, 80, died in Nashville, Tenn.

One year ago: Monks and soldiers piled sandbags outside Bangkok's most treasured temples and palaces as Thailand's worst floods in decades sent ankle-high water rushing briefly into some of the capital's main tourist districts. NBA Commissioner David Stern canceled all NBA games through November after labor negotiations broke down for the second time in a week. The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series, beating the Texas Rangers 6-2 in Game 7.

Today's Birthdays: Jazz singer Cleo Laine is 85. Actress Joan Plowright is 83. Musician-songwriter Charlie Daniels is 76. Actress Jane Alexander is 73. Singer Curtis Lee is 71. Actor Dennis Franz is 68. Pop singer Wayne Fontana is 67. Actress Telma Hopkins is 64. Olympic track and field gold medalist Bruce Jenner is 63. Actress Annie Potts is 60. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is 57. The president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is 56. Rock musician Stephen Morris (New Order) is 55. Country/gospel singer-musician Ron Hemby (The Buffalo Club) is 54. Rock singer-musician William Reid (The Jesus & Mary Chain) is 54. Actor Mark Derwin is 52. Actress Daphne Zuniga is 50. Actress Lauren Holly is 49. Talk show host-comedian-actress Sheryl Underwood is 49. Actress Jami Gertz is 47. Actor Chris Bauer is 46. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 46. Actress Julia Roberts is 45. Country singer-musician Caitlin Cary is 44. Actor Jeremy Davies is 43. Singer Ben Harper is 43. Country singer Brad Paisley is 40. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 38. Singer Justin Guarini ("American Idol") is 34. Pop singer Brett Dennen is 33. Rock musician Dave Tirio (Plain White T's) is 33. Actress Troian Bellisario is 27. Actor Nolan Gould (TV: "Modern Family") is 14.

Thought for Today: "Next to excellence is the appreciation of it." -- William Makepeace Thackeray, British author (1811-1863).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.