Today in History

Today is Tuesday, June 3, the 154th day of 2014. There are 211 days left in the year.

Today's Highlights in History:

On June 3, 1989, Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, died. Chinese army troops began their sweep of Beijing to crush student-led pro-democracy demonstrations.

On this date:

In 1621, the Dutch West India Co. received its charter for a trade monopoly in parts of the Americas and Africa.

In 1808, Confederate President Jefferson Davis was born in Christian County, Kentucky.

In 1888, the poem "Casey at the Bat," by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, was first published in the San Francisco Daily Examiner.

In 1924, author Franz Kafka, 40, died near Vienna.

In 1937, Edward, The Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated the British throne, married Wallis Warfield Simpson in a private ceremony in Monts, France.

In 1948, the 200-inch reflecting Hale Telescope at the Palomar Mountain Observatory in California was dedicated.

In 1963, Pope John XXIII died at age 81; he was succeeded by Pope Paul VI.

In 1964, South Korean President Park Chung-hee declared martial law in the face of student protests.

In 1965, astronaut Edward White became the first American to "walk" in space during the flight of Gemini 4.

In 1972, Sally J. Priesand was ordained as America's first female rabbi at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1983, Gordon Kahl, a militant tax protester wanted in the slayings of two U.S. marshals in North Dakota, was killed in a gun battle with law-enforcement officials near Smithville, Arkansas.

In 1989, SkyDome (now called Rogers Centre) opened in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush announced the resignation of CIA Director George Tenet amid a controversy over intelligence lapses about suspected weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and the September 11 terrorist attacks. Frances Shand Kydd, the mother of the late Princess Diana, died at her home near Oban, Scotland, at age 68. Julio Franco became, at age 45, the oldest player in major league history to hit a grand slam, connecting in Atlanta's 8-4 victory over Philadelphia (he repeated the feat a year later, at age 46).

Five years ago: New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage. The Organization of American States cleared the way for Cuba's possible return to the group by lifting a 47-year ban on the country. Death claimed Koko Taylor, 80, the "Queen of the Blues," in Chicago and Las Vegas saxophonist Sam Butera, 81.

One year ago: The prosecution and defense presented opening statements in the court-martial of U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning over the biggest leak of classified material in American history. (Manning was found guilty at Fort Meade, Maryland, of espionage and theft but was acquitted of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, and was sentenced to up to 35 years in prison.) A sharply divided Supreme Court cleared the way for police to take a DNA swab from anyone they arrest for a serious crime. A poultry plant fire in the northeastern Chinese city of Jilin killed 121 people. A suicide bomber targeting U.S. troops outside an Afghanistan government office killed 9 children and two of the Americans. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., died at a New York hospital at age 89. Football Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones died in Anaheim Hills, California, at age 74.

Today's Birthdays: TV producer Chuck Barris is 85. The president of Cuba, Raul Castro, is 83. Actress Irma P. Hall is 79. Author Larry McMurtry is 78. Rock singer Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) is 75. Singer Eddie Holman is 68. Actor Tristan Rogers is 68. Musician Too Slim (Riders in the Sky) is 66. Rock musician Richard Moore is 65. Singer Suzi Quatro is 64. Singer Deneice Williams is 63. Singer Dan Hill is 60. Actress Suzie Plakson is 56. Actor Scott Valentine is 56. Rock musician Kerry King (Slayer) is 50. Rock singer-musician Mike Gordon is 49. TV host Anderson Cooper is 47. Country singer Jamie O'Neal is 46. Singers Gabriel and Ariel Hernandez (No Mercy) are 43. Actor Vik Sahay is 43. Rhythm-and-blues singer Lyfe Jennings is 41. Actress Arianne Zucker (TV: "Days of Our Lives") is 40. Actress Nikki M. James is 33. Tennis player Rafael Nadal is 28. Actress-singer Lalaine is 27. Actor Sean Berdy is 21.

Thought for Today: "There are two cardinal sins from which all the others spring: impatience and laziness." -- Franz Kafka (1883-1924).

Copyright 2014, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.