Today in History

Today is Saturday, Nov. 1, the 305th day of 2014. There are 60 days left in the year. This is All Saints Day. A reminder: Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. local time Sunday. Clocks go back one hour.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Nov. 1, 1954, Algerian nationalists began their successful 7-year rebellion against French rule.

On this date:

In 1512, Michelangelo's just-completed paintings on the ceiling of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel were publicly unveiled by the artist's patron, Pope Julius II.

In 1604, William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" was presented at Whitehall Palace in London.

In 1765, the Stamp Act went into effect, prompting stiff resistance from American colonists.

In 1861, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln named Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan General-in-Chief of the Union armies, succeeding Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott.

In 1864, the U.S. Postal money order system was established by an act of Congress.

In 1870, the United States Weather Bureau made its first meteorological observations.

In 1936, in a speech in Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini described the alliance between his country and Nazi Germany as an "axis" running between Rome and Berlin.

In 1944, "Harvey," a comedy by Mary Chase about a genial fellow named Elwood P. Dowd and his friend, an invisible six-foot-three rabbit, opened on Broadway.

In 1952, the United States exploded the first hydrogen bomb, code-named "Ivy Mike," at Enewetak (en-ih-WEE'-tahk) Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

In 1968, the Motion Picture Association of America unveiled its new voluntary film rating system: G for general, M for mature (later changed to GP, then PG), R for restricted and X (later changed to NC-17) for adults only.

In 1979, former first lady Mamie Eisenhower died in Washington, D.C., at age 82.

In 1989, East Germany reopened its border with Czechoslovakia, prompting tens of thousands of refugees to flee to the West.

Ten years ago: American contract worker Roy Hallums was one of several people kidnapped during an armed assault on the Baghdad compound where he lived (Hallums was rescued by coalition forces on Sept. 7, 2005). A 16-year-old Palestinian laden with explosives blew himself up in an outdoor market in Tel Aviv, killing three Israelis. U.N. nuclear agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei (ehl-BEHR'-uh-day) urged Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and called on North Korea to dismantle its weapons program.

Five years ago: Afghan President Hamid Karzai's challenger, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, withdrew from an upcoming runoff election, effectively handing Karzai a victory. Lender CIT Group filed one of the biggest Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in U.S. corporate history. (CIT Group emerged from bankruptcy protection the following month.) The New York Yankees took a 3-1 lead in the World Series as they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4. Meb Keflezighi (keh-FLEZ'-gee) became the first U.S. man in 27 years to win the New York City Marathon, in a time of 2:09:15; Ethiopian runner Derartu Tulu won the women's title in 2:28:52.

One year ago: A man carrying a bag with a note that said he "wanted to kill TSA" opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle at a security checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport, killing a TSA officer and wounding two others; the gunman, who was wounded, was taken into custody. (Gerardo Hernandez, 39, became the first TSA officer in the agency's 12-year history to be killed in the line of duty; Paul Ciancia pleaded not guilty to 11 federal charges, including murder of a federal officer.) A U.S. drone strike killed Hakimullah Mehsud (hah-kee-MUH'-lah meh-SOOD'), leader of the Pakistani Taliban.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Betsy Palmer is 88. Golfer Gary Player is 79. Country singer Bill Anderson is 77. Actress Barbara Bosson is 75. Actor Robert Foxworth is 73. Magazine publisher Larry Flynt is 72. Country singer-humorist Kinky Friedman is 70. Actress Jeannie Berlin is 65. Music producer David Foster is 65. Rhythm-and-blues musician Ronald Khalis Bell (Kool and the Gang) is 63. Country singer-songwriter-producer Keith Stegall is 60. Country singer Lyle Lovett is 57. Actress Rachel Ticotin is 56. Rock musician Eddie MacDonald (The Alarm) is 55. Actress Helene Udy is 53. Rock singer Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 52. Pop singer-musician Mags Furuholmen (a-ha) is 52. Rock musician Rick Allen (Def Leppard) is 51. Country singer "Big Kenny" Alphin (Big and Rich) is 51. Singer Sophie B. Hawkins is 50. Rapper Willie D (Geto Boys) is 48. Country musician Dale Wallace (Emerson Drive) is 45. Actress Toni Collette is 42. Actress-talk show host Jenny McCarthy is 42. Rock musician Andrew Gonzales is 42. Actor David Berman is 41. Actress Aishwarya Rai is 41. Rock singer Bo Bice is 39. Actor Matt Jones is 33. Actress Natalia Tena is 30. Actor Penn Badgley is 28. Actor Max Burkholder is 17. Actor-musician Alex Wolff is 17.

Thought for Today: "Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, 'In this world, Elwood, you must be' she always called me Elwood 'In this world, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me." "Elwood P. Dowd" from the play "Harvey" by Mary Chase (1906-1981).