Today in History

Today is Sunday, Nov. 25, the 330th day of 2012. There are 36 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 25, 1952, the play "The Mousetrap," a murder mystery by Agatha Christie, first opened in London's West End; it is the longest continuously running show in history.

On this date:

In 1783, the British evacuated New York, their last military position in the United States during the Revolutionary War.

In 1881, Pope John XXIII was born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli at Sotto il Monte, Italy.

In 1908, the first issue of The Christian Science Monitor was published.

In 1940, the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker made his debut in the animated short "Knock Knock."

In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a slight stroke.

In 1963, the body of President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery; his widow, Jacqueline, lighted an "eternal flame" at the gravesite.

In 1973, Greek President George Papadopoulos was ousted in a bloodless military coup.

In 1982, on Thanksgiving Day, an arson fire broke out in downtown Minneapolis; the blaze destroyed an entire city block, but resulted in no injuries.

In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair erupted as President Ronald Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to Nicaraguan rebels.

In 1987, Harold Washington, the first black mayor of Chicago, died in office at age 65.

In 1992, the movie "The Bodyguard," starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, was first released.

In 1999, five-year-old Elian Gonzalez was rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida, setting off an international custody battle.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush signed legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security, and appointed Tom Ridge to be its head. Space shuttle Endeavour arrived at the international space station, delivering one American and two Russians, and another girder for the orbiting outpost. Former State Department official Eugene V. Rostow died at age 89. Movie director Karel Reisz, who was part of British cinema's gritty 1960's renaissance, died in London at age 76.

Five years ago: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned from exile to an ecstatic welcome from thousands of supporters and immediately stepped up the pressure on U.S.-backed military ruler Pervez Musharraf to end emergency rule. Kevin Dubrow, lead singer for the heavy metal band Quiet Riot, was found dead in a Las Vegas home; he was 52. Actor Neil Hope died in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada at age 35.

One year ago: In a friendly-fire incident that further strained relations between the United States and Pakistan, U.S. forces launched airstrikes that mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani troops at two posts along the Afghan border. Former New York Times political reporter and columnist Tom Wicker, 85, died in Rochester, Vt.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Noel Neill is 92. Playwright Murray Schisgal is 86. Actress Kathryn Crosby is 79. Actor Matt Clark is 76. Actor Christopher Riordan is 75. Singer Percy Sledge is 72. Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs is 72. Author, actor and economist Ben Stein is 68. Singer Bob Lind is 68. Actor John Larroquette is 65. Actor Tracey Walter is 65. Movie director Jonathan Kaplan is 65. Author Charlaine Harris is 61. Retired MLB All-Star Bucky Dent is 61. Dance judge Bruno Tonioli (TV: "Dancing with the Stars") is 57. Singer Amy Grant is 52. Former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar is 49. Rock musician Eric Grossman (K's Choice) is 48. Rock singer Mark Lanegan is 48. Rock singer-musician Tim Armstrong is 47. Actor Steve Harris is 47. Actor Billy Burke is 46. Singer Stacy Lattisaw is 46. Rock musician Rodney Sheppard (Sugar Ray) is 46. Rapper-producer Erick Sermon is 44. Actress Jill Hennessy is 43. Actress Christina Applegate is 41. Actor Eddie Steeples is 39. NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb is 36. Actor Joel Kinnaman is 33. Actress Valerie Azlynn (TV: "Sullivan & Son") is 32. Former first daughter Barbara Bush is 31. Former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager is 31. Actress Katie Cassidy is 26. Contemporary Christian singer Jamie Grace is 21.

Thought for Today: "Reject hatred without hating." -- Mary Baker Eddy, American religious leader (1821-1910).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.