Today in History

Today is Saturday, May 25, the 145th day of 2013. There are 220 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy told Congress: "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth."

On this date:

In 1787, the Constitutional Convention began at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia after enough delegates had shown up for a quorum.

In 1810, Argentina began its revolt against Spanish rule with the forming of the Primera Junta in Buenos Aires.

In 1895, playwright Oscar Wilde was convicted of a morals charge in London; he was sentenced to two years in prison.

In 1935, Babe Ruth hit the 714th and final home run of his career, for the Boston Braves, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 1942, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell, frustrated over being driven out of Burma by Japanese troops during World War II, told reporters in Delhi, India: "I claim we got a hell of a beating."

In 1946, Transjordan (now Jordan) became a kingdom as it proclaimed its new monarch, Abdullah I.

In 1963, the Organisation of African Unity was founded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (The OAU was disbanded in 2002 in favor of the African Union.)

In 1968, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis was dedicated by Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Interior Secretary Stewart Udall.

In 1979, 273 people died when an American Airlines DC-10 crashed just after takeoff from Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared while on his way to a school bus stop in lower Manhattan.

In 1981, daredevil Dan Goodwin, wearing a Spiderman costume, scaled the outside of Chicago's Sears Tower in 71/2 hours.

In 1986, an estimated 7 million Americans participated in "Hands Across America" to raise money for the nation's hungry and homeless.

In 1988, the final episode of "St. Elsewhere" aired on NBC-TV.

Ten years ago: In a historic vote cast under intense U.S. pressure, Israel's government conditionally approved by a narrow margin an internationally backed "road map" to peace. Nestor Kirchner was sworn in as Argentina's first popularly elected president since the country's financial meltdown in December 2001. Director Gus Van Sant's "Elephant," a disturbing film loosely based on the Columbine school shooting, won top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Gil de Ferran won the Indianapolis 500.

Five years ago: A tornado tore through Parkersburg, Iowa, killing eight people. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander arrived to begin searching for water on the Red Planet. Seven crashes and spinouts marred the first Indianapolis 500 since the two warring open-wheel series (CART and IRL) came together under the IndyCar banner; Scott Dixon stayed ahead of the trouble to win the race. The French film "The Class" won top honors at the Cannes Film Festival. J.R. Simplot, Idaho's billionaire potato king, died in Boise at age 99.

One year ago: The private company SpaceX made history as its Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station. In Syria, more than 100 people were killed in one day in a cluster of villages in central Homs province; U.N. investigators blamed pro-government gunmen for at least some of the killings, but the Syrian regime denied responsibility and blamed rebels for the deaths.

Today's Birthdays: Former White House news secretary Ron Nessen is 79. Author W.P. Kinsella is 78. Country singer-songwriter Tom T. Hall is 77. Actor Sir Ian McKellen is 74. Country singer Jessi Colter is 70. Actress-singer Leslie Uggams is 70. Movie director and Muppeteer Frank Oz is 69. Actress Karen Valentine is 66. Actress Jacki Weaver is 66. Rock singer Klaus Meine (The Scorpions) is 65. Actress Patti D'Arbanville is 62. Actress Connie Sellecca is 58. Rock singer-musician Paul Weller is 55. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is 53. Actor-comedian Mike Myers is 50. Actor Matt Borlenghi is 46. Actor Joseph Reitman is 45. Rock musician Glen Drover is 44. Actress Anne Heche is 44. Actresses Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (TV: "Little House on the Prairie") are 43. Actor-comedian Jamie Kennedy is 43. Actress Octavia Spencer is 43. Actor Justin Henry is 42. Rapper Daz Dillinger is 40. Actress Molly Sims is 40. Singer Lauryn Hill is 38. Actress Erinn Hayes is 37. Actor Cillian Murphy is 37. Actor Ethan Suplee is 37. Rock musician Todd Whitener is 35. Actor Corbin Allred is 34. Actress-singer Lauren Frost is 28. Olympic gold medal gymnast Aly Raisman is 19.

Thought for Today: "A historian is a prophet in reverse." -- Friedrich von Schlegel, German diplomat and writer (1772-1829).

Copyright 2013, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.