Today in History

Today is Monday, July 21, the 202nd day of 2014. There are 163 days left in the year.

Today's Highlights in History:

On July 21, 1944, American forces landed on Guam during World War II, capturing it from the Japanese some three weeks later. The Democratic national convention in Chicago nominated Sen. Harry S. Truman to be vice president.

On this date:

In 1773, Pope Clement XIV issued an order suppressing the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits. (The Society was restored by Pope Pius VII in 1814.)

In 1861, during the Civil War, the first Battle of Bull Run was fought at Manassas, Virginia, resulting in a Confederate victory.

In 1925, the so-called "Monkey Trial" ended in Dayton, Tennessee, with John T. Scopes found guilty of violating state law for teaching Darwin's Theory of Evolution. (The conviction was later overturned on a technicality.)

In 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed an executive order establishing the Veterans Administration (later the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

In 1949, the U.S. Senate ratified the North Atlantic Treaty.

In 1959, the NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship, was christened by first lady Mamie Eisenhower at Camden, New Jersey.

In 1961, Capt. Virgil "Gus" Grissom became the second American to rocket into a sub-orbital pattern around the Earth, flying aboard the Liberty Bell 7.

In 1972, the Irish Republican Army carried out 22 bombings in Belfast, Northern Ireland, killing nine people and injuring 130 in what became known as "Bloody Friday."

In 1973, Israeli agents in Lillehammer, Norway, killed Ahmed Bouchikhi, a Moroccan waiter, in a case of mistaken identity, apparently thinking he was an official with Black September, the group that attacked Israel's delegation at the 1972 Munich Olympics and killed 11 athletes.

In 1980, draft registration began in the United States for 19- and 20-year-old men.

In 1994, Britain's Labor Party elected Tony Blair its new leader, succeeding the late John Smith. Former Senate Republican leader Hugh Scott died in Falls Church, Virginia, at age 93.

In 1999, Navy divers found and recovered the bodies of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn, and sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette, in the wreckage of Kennedy's plane in the Atlantic Ocean off Martha's Vineyard. Advertising executive David Ogilvy died in Bonnes, France, at age 88.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush sketched out a second-term domestic agenda, telling campaign donors he would shift focus to improving high school education and expanding access to health care. Academy Award-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith died in Beverly Hills, California, at age 75. Richard Bloch, co-founder of H&R Block, the world's largest tax preparer, died in Kansas City, Missouri, at age 78.

Five years ago: The Senate voted to terminate further production of the Air Force's topline F-22 fighter jets. Prosecutors in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dropped a disorderly conduct charge against prominent black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., who was arrested by a white officer at his home near Harvard University after a report of a break-in. John "Marmaduke" Dawson, a longtime Grateful Dead collaborator and co-founder of New Riders of the Purple Sage, died in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico at 64. Taco Bell mascot Gidget the Chihuahua died in Santa Clarita, California, at 15.

One year ago: Belgium's King Albert abdicated after a 20-year reign; his son Philippe took over as the fractured nation's seventh king. Phil Mickelson won the British Open, shooting a 5-under 66 to match the best round of the tournament and win his first claret jug. Britain's Chris Froome won the 100th Tour de France.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Kay Starr is 92. Movie director Norman Jewison is 88. Former Attorney General Janet Reno is 76. Actress Patricia Elliott is 72. Actor David Downing is 71. Actor Edward Herrmann is 71. Actor Leigh Lawson is 69. Actor Wendell Burton is 67. Actor Art Hindle is 66. Singer Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) is 66. Cartoonist Garry Trudeau is 66. Comedian-actor Robin Williams is 63. Actor Jamey Sheridan is 63. Rock singer-musician Eric Bazilian (The Hooters) is 61. Comedian Jon Lovitz is 57. Actor Lance Guest is 54. Actor Matt Mulhern is 54. Comedian Greg Behrendt is 51. Rock musician Koen Lieckens (K's Choice) is 48. Soccer player Brandi Chastain is 46. Rock singer Emerson Hart is 45. Actress Alysia Reiner (TV: "Orange is the New Black") is 44. Country singer Paul Brandt is 42. Actress Ali Landry is 41. Actor-comedian Steve Byrne is 40. Actor Justin Bartha is 36. Actor Josh Hartnett is 36. Contemporary Christian singer Brandon Heath is 36. Actress Sprague Grayden is 36. Reggae singer Damian Marley is 36. Country singer Brad Mates (Emerson Drive) is 36. MLB All-Star pitcher CC Sabathia is 34. Singer Blake Lewis ("American Idol") is 33. Rock musician Will Berman (MGMT) is 32. Rock musician Johan Carlsson (Carolina Liar) is 30. Actress Vanessa Lengies is 29. Actor Jamie Waylett ("Harry Potter" films) is 25.

Thought for Today: "There is no bigotry like that of 'free thought' run to seed." -- Horace Greeley, American journalist (1811-1872).

Copyright 2014, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.