Today in History

Today is Sunday, Aug. 4, the 216th day of 2013. There are 149 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On August 4, 1944, 15-year-old diarist Anne Frank was arrested with her sister, parents and four others by the Gestapo after hiding for two years inside a building in Amsterdam. (Anne died the following year at Bergen-Belsen.)

On this date:

In 1735, a jury found John Peter Zenger of the New York Weekly Journal not guilty of committing seditious libel against the colonial governor of New York, William Cosby.

In 1790, the Coast Guard had its beginnings as the Revenue Cutter Service.

In 1830, plans for the city of Chicago were laid out.

In 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were axed to death in their home in Fall River, Mass. Lizzie Borden, Andrew's daughter from a previous marriage, was accused of the killings, but acquitted at trial.

In 1916, the United States reached agreement with Denmark to purchase the Danish Virgin Islands for $25 million.

In 1936, Jesse Owens of the U.S. won the second of his four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics as he prevailed in the long jump over German Luz Long, who was the first to congratulate him.

In 1964, the bodies of missing civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney were found buried in an earthen dam in Mississippi.

In 1972, Arthur Bremer was convicted and sentenced in Upper Marlboro, Md., to 63 years in prison for his attempt on the life of Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace (the sentence was later reduced to 53 years; Bremer was released from prison in 2007).

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed a measure establishing the Department of Energy.

In 1987, the Federal Communications Commission voted to abolish the Fairness Doctrine, which required radio and television stations to present balanced coverage of controversial issues.

In 1991, the Greek luxury liner Oceanos sank in heavy seas off South Africa's southeast coast; all the passengers and crew members survived.

In 1993, a federal judge sentenced Los Angeles police officers Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell to 21/2 years in prison for violating Rodney King's civil rights.

Ten years ago: California Gov. Gray Davis asked the state Supreme Court to delay his October 7 recall election until the following March (the recall went ahead as originally scheduled). West African forces arrived in Liberia to oversee the departure of President Charles Taylor. Chung Mong-hun, a top executive of South Korea's Hyundai conglomerate embroiled in a scandal over a historic 2000 summit between the two Koreas, committed suicide.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush signed legislation allowing the State Department to settle all remaining lawsuits against Libya by American victims of terrorism. In a brazen attack just days ahead of the Beijing Olympics, two men from a mainly Muslim ethnic group rammed a truck and hurled explosives at jogging policemen in western China, killing 16.

One year ago: Michael Phelps ended his career with another gold as the United States won the medley relay at the London Olympics; Phelps left the sport with a record 18 golds and 22 medals overall. The United States set a world record to win the women's medley relay. Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 to join Steffi Graf as the only women to complete the Golden Slam -- winning the Olympics and the four majors. Three British athletes won gold medals in Olympic Stadium: Jessica Ennis in heptathlon; Greg Rutherford in men's long jump; and Mo Farah in the men's 10,000 meters.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Frankie Ford is 74. Actress-singer Tina Cole is 70. Actor-comedian Richard Belzer is 69. Football Hall-of-Famer John Riggins is 64. Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is 58. Actor-screenwriter Billy Bob Thornton is 58. Actress Kym Karath ("The Sound of Music") is 55. Hall of Fame track star Mary Decker Slaney is 55. Actress Lauren Tom is 54. President Barack Obama is 52. TV producer Michael Gelman ("Live! With Kelly and Michael") is 52. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens is 51. Actress Crystal Chappell is 48. Author Dennis Lehane is 48. Rock musician Rob Cieka (Boo Radleys) is 45. Actor Daniel Dae Kim is 45. Actor Michael DeLuise is 44. Actor Ron Lester is 43. Race car driver Jeff Gordon is 42. Rapper-actress Yo-Yo is 42. Country singer Jon Nicholson is 40. Rhythm-and-blues singer-actor Marques (MAR'-kus) Houston is 32. Actress Meghan Markle is 32. Actress Greta Gerwig is 30. Country singer Crystal Bowersox (TV: "American Idol") is 28. Rock singer Tom Parker (The Wanted) is 25. Actors Dylan and Cole Sprouse are 21. Singer Jessica Sanchez (TV: "American Idol") is 18.

Thought for Today: "When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out." -- Elizabeth Bowen, Irish author (1899-1973).

Copyright 2013, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.