Today in History

Today is Thursday, Nov. 8, the 313th day of 2012. There are 53 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 8, 1932, New York Democratic Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated incumbent Republican Herbert Hoover for the presidency.

On this date:

In 1889, Montana became the 41st state.

In 1909, the original Boston Opera House first opened with a performance of "La Gioconda" by Amilcare Ponchielli.

In 1913, the play "Woyzeck," by Georg Buchner, had its premiere in Munich, Germany, more than six decades after the playwright's death.

In 1923, Adolf Hitler launched his first attempt at seizing power in Germany with a failed coup in Munich that came to be known as the "Beer-Hall Putsch."

In 1942, Operation Torch, resulting in an Allied victory, began during World War II as U.S. and British forces landed in French North Africa.

In 1950, during the Korean War, the first jet-plane battle took place as U.S. Air Force Lt. Russell J. Brown shot down a North Korean MiG-15.

In 1960, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon for the presidency.

In 1972, the premium cable TV network HBO (Home Box Office) made its debut with a showing of the movie "Sometimes a Great Notion."

In 1980, scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., announced that the U.S. space probe Voyager 1 had discovered a 15th moon orbiting the planet Saturn.

In 1987, 11 people were killed when an Irish Republican Army bomb exploded as crowds gathered in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, for a ceremony honoring Britain's war dead.

In 1988, Vice President George H.W. Bush won the presidential election, defeating Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

In 1994, midterm elections resulted in Republicans winning a majority in the Senate while at the same time gaining control of the House for the first time in 40 years.

Ten years ago: The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved Resolution 1441, aimed at forcing Saddam Hussein to disarm or face "serious consequences." President George W. Bush said the new resolution presented the Iraqi regime "with a final test."

Five years ago: The Senate confirmed President George W. Bush's nomination of Michael Mukasey to be attorney general, 53-40. President Bush suffered the first veto override of his seven-year-old presidency as the Senate enacted, 79-14, a $23 billion water resources bill despite his protest that it was filled with unnecessary projects. Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra swept the Latin Grammy Awards, taking home five musical honors including album of the year, record of the year and song of the year.

One year ago: A defiant Herman Cain declared he would not drop his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in the face of allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior, a day after a fourth woman accused him of unwanted sexual advances. Voters re-elected Kentucky's Democratic governor, Steve Beshear, and picked a new governor in Mississippi, Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant. Bil Keane, 89, creator of the comic strip "Family Circus," died in Paradise Valley, Ariz. Rapper Heavy D, 44, died in Los Angeles.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Norman Lloyd is 98. Singer Patti Page is 85. CBS newsman Morley Safer is 81. Singer-actress Bonnie Bramlett is 68. Singer Bonnie Raitt is 63. TV personality Mary Hart is 62. Former Playboy Enterprises chairman and chief executive Christie Hefner is 60. Actress Alfre Woodard is 60. Singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is 58. Author Kazuo Ishiguro is 58. Rock musician Porl Thompson (The Cure) is 55. Singer-actor Leif Garrett is 51. Chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay is 46. Actress Courtney Thorne-Smith is 45. Actress Parker Posey is 44. Rock musician Jimmy Chaney is 43. Actress Roxana Zal is 43. Singer Diana King is 42. Actor Gonzalo Menendez is 41. Actress Gretchen Mol is 39. Actor Matthew Rhys is 38. Actress Tara Reid is 37. Country singer Bucky Covington is 35. Actress Dania Ramirez is 33. Actress Azura Skye is 31. Actor Chris Rankin is 29. TV personality Jack Osbourne is 27. Actress Jessica Lowndes is 24. Country singer Lauren Alaina is 18.

Thought for Today: "Man is born to live, not to prepare for life." -- Boris Pasternak, Russian author (1890-1960).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.