Today in History

Today is Sunday, June 8, the 159th day of 2014. There are 206 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 8, 1864, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for another term as president during the National Union (Republican) Party's convention in Baltimore.

On this date:

In A.D. 632, the prophet Muhammad died in Medina.

In 1845, Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, died in Nashville, Tennessee.

In 1915, Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned in a disagreement with President Woodrow Wilson over U.S. handling of the sinking of the Lusitania.

In 1948, the "Texaco Star Theater" made its debut on NBC-TV with Milton Berle guest-hosting the first program. (Berle was later named the show's permanent host.)

In 1953, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that restaurants in the District of Columbia could not refuse to serve blacks. Eight tornadoes struck Michigan's Lower Peninsula, killing 126 people.

In 1967, 34 U.S. servicemen were killed when Israel attacked the USS Liberty, a Navy intelligence-gathering ship in the Mediterranean. (Israel later said the Liberty had been mistaken for an Egyptian vessel.)

In 1972, during the Vietnam War, an Associated Press photographer captured the image of 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc (fahn thee kihm fook) as she ran naked and severely burned from the scene of a South Vietnamese napalm attack.

In 1973, Gen. Francisco Franco relinquished his post as Spain's prime minister while remaining as chief of state.

In 1978, a jury in Clark County, Nevada, ruled the so-called "Mormon will," purportedly written by the late billionaire Howard Hughes, was a forgery.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan became the first American chief executive to address a joint session of the British Parliament.

In 1987, Fawn Hall began testifying at the Iran-Contra hearings, describing how, as secretary to National Security aide Oliver L. North, she helped to shred some documents and spirit away others.

In 1998, the National Rifle Association elected actor Charlton Heston its president.

Ten years ago: The U.N. Security Council gave unanimous approval to a resolution endorsing the transfer of sovereignty to Iraq's new government by the end of June. Three Italians and a Polish contractor who'd been abducted in Iraq were freed by U.S. special forces. An American who worked for a U.S. defense contractor was shot and killed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a celestial rarity, Venus passed between the sun and the Earth.

Five years ago: North Korea's highest court sentenced American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee to 12 years' hard labor for trespassing and "hostile acts." (The women were pardoned in early August 2009 after a trip to Pyongyang by former President Bill Clinton.) Omar Bongo, 73, the world's longest-serving president who'd ruled Gabon for 42 years, died at a Spanish hospital.

One year ago: President Barack Obama and Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded a two-day summit in the California desert that ended with few policy breakthroughs but the prospect of closer personal ties. Serena Williams won her 16th Grand Slam title and her first French Open championship since 2002, beating Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-4. Palace Malice took charge on the turn for home and won the Belmont Stakes, holding off Preakness winner Oxbow and Kentucky Derby winner Orb.

Today's Birthdays: Former first lady Barbara Bush is 89. Actor-comedian Jerry Stiller is 87. Comedian Joan Rivers is 81. Actress Millicent Martin is 80. Actor James Darren is 78. Actor Bernie Casey is 75. Singer Nancy Sinatra is 74. Singer Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night) is 72. Musician Boz Scaggs is 70. Rock musician Mick Box (Uriah Heep) is 67. Author Sara Paretsky is 67. Actress Sonia Braga is 64. Actress Kathy Baker is 64. Country musician Tony Rice is 63. Rock singer Bonnie Tyler is 63. Actor Griffin Dunne is 59. "Dilbert" creator Scott Adams is 57. Actor-director Keenen Ivory Wayans is 56. Singer Mick Hucknall (Simply Red) is 54. Musician Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) is 52. Rhythm-and-blues singer Doris Pearson (Five Star) is 48. Actress Julianna Margulies is 47. Actor Dan Futterman is 47. Actor David Sutcliffe is 45. Actor Kent Faulcon is 44. Rhythm-and-blues singer Nicci Gilbert is 44. Actress Kelli Williams is 44. Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., is 44. Actor Mark Feuerstein is 43. Contemporary Christian musician Mike Scheuchzer (MercyMe) is 39. Actor Eion Bailey is 38. Tennis player Lindsay Davenport is 38. Rapper Kanye West is 37. Blues-rock musician Derek Trucks (The Derek Trucks Band) is 35. Folk-bluegrass singer-musician Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek) is 33. Tennis player Kim Clijsters is 31. Actress Torrey DeVitto is 30.

Thought for Today: "It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman statesman (circa 5 B.C.-A.D. 65).

Copyright 2014, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.