Today in History

Today is Saturday, July 13, the 194th day of 2013. There are 171 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On July 13, 1863, deadly rioting against the Civil War military draft erupted in New York City. (The insurrection was put down three days later.)

On this date:

In 1787, the Congress of the Confederation adopted the Northwest Ordinance, which established a government in the Northwest Territory, an area corresponding to the present-day Midwest and Upper Midwest.

In 1793, French revolutionary writer Jean-Paul Marat was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday, who was executed four days later.

In 1913, broadcaster Dave Garroway, the first host of NBC's "Today" show, was born in Schenectady, N.Y.

In 1923, a sign consisting of 50-foot-tall letters spelling out "HOLLYWOODLAND" was dedicated in the Hollywood Hills to promote a subdivision (the last four letters were removed in 1949).

In 1939, Frank Sinatra made his first commercial recording, "From the Bottom of My Heart" and "Melancholy Mood," with Harry James and his Orchestra for the Brunswick label.

In 1960, John F. Kennedy won the Democratic presidential nomination on the first ballot at his party's convention in Los Angeles.

In 1972, George McGovern received the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's convention in Miami Beach.

In 1973, former presidential aide Alexander P. Butterfield, under questioning from Senate Watergate Committee staff members, revealed the existence of President Richard Nixon's secret White House taping system. (Butterfield's public revelation came three days later.)

In 1977, a blackout lasting 25 hours hit the New York City area.

In 1978, Lee Iacocca was fired as president of Ford Motor Co. by chairman Henry Ford II.

In 1985, "Live Aid," an international rock concert in London, Philadelphia, Moscow and Sydney, took place to raise money for Africa's starving people.

In 1999, Angel Maturino Resendiz, suspected of being the "Railroad Killer," surrendered in El Paso, Texas. (Resendiz was executed in 2006.)

Ten years ago: With the blessing of U.S. administrators, Iraqis inaugurated a broadly representative governing council. Cuban musician Compay Segundo died in Havana at age 95.

Five years ago: An assault by militants on a remote U.S. base in Afghanistan close to the Pakistan border killed nine American soldiers and wounded 15. Anheuser-Busch agreed to a takeover by giant Belgian brewer InBev SA. Talk show host Les Crane died in Greenbrae, Calif., at age 74.

One year ago: His credibility under attack, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney insisted he had "no role whatsoever in the management" of Bain Capital, a private equity firm, after early 1999, and demanded that President Barack Obama apologize for campaign aides who persisted in alleging otherwise. JPMorgan Chase said its traders might have tried to conceal the losses from a soured investment bet that embarrassed the bank and cost it almost $6 billion -- far more than its chief executive first suggested. Film producer Richard Zanuck, 77, died in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Patrick Stewart is 73. Actor Robert Forster is 72. Actor Harrison Ford is 71. Singer-guitarist Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) is 71. Actor-comedian Cheech Marin is 67. Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid is 65. Actress Didi Conn is 62. Singer Louise Mandrell is 59. Actor-director Cameron Crowe is 56. Tennis player Anders Jarryd is 52. Rock musician Gonzalo Martinez De La Cotera (Marcy Playground) is 51. Comedian Tom Kenny (TV: "SpongeBob SquarePants") is 51. Country singer-songwriter Victoria Shaw is 51. Bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent is 51. Actor Kenny Johnson is 50. Actor Michael Jace is 48. Country singer Neil Thrasher is 48. Singer Deborah Cox is 40. Actress Ashley Scott is 36. Rock musician Will Champion (Coldplay) is 35. Actor Fran Kranz is 32. Actor Steven R. McQueen is 25.

Thought for Today: "Individuality is freedom lived." -- John Dos Passos, American author (1896-1970).

Copyright 2013, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.