Today in History

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 28, the 301st day of 2014. There are 64 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 28, 1914, Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip, whose assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, sparked World War I, was sentenced in Sarajevo to 20 years' imprisonment (he died in 1918); four conspirators were sentenced to death. (Princip escaped the death penalty because he was underage.)

On this date:

In 1636, the General Court of Massachusetts passed a legislative act establishing Harvard College.

In 1776, the Battle of White Plains was fought during the Revolutionary War, resulting in a limited British victory.

In 1886, the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland.

In 1914, medical researcher Jonas Salk, who developed the first successful polio vaccine, was born in New York.

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt rededicated the Statue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary.

In 1940, Italy invaded Greece during World War II.

In 1958, the Roman Catholic patriarch of Venice, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was elected Pope; he took the name John XXIII. The Samuel Beckett play "Krapp's Last Tape" premiered in London.

In 1962, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev informed the United States that he had ordered the dismantling of missile bases in Cuba; in exchange, the U.S. secretly agreed to remove nuclear missiles from U.S. installations in Turkey.

In 1964, the "T.A.M.I. Show," a two-day rock concert, opened in Santa Monica, California; filmed for theatrical release, it featured performances by the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Lesley Gore, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, The Rolling Stones and The Supremes, among others.

In 1976, former Nixon aide John D. Ehrlichman entered a federal prison camp in Safford, Arizona, to begin serving his sentence for Watergate-related convictions (he was released in April 1978).

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter and Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan faced off in a nationally broadcast, 90-minute debate in Cleveland.

In 1991, what became known as "The Perfect Storm" began forming hundreds of miles east of Nova Scotia; lost at sea during the storm were the six crew members of the Andrea Gail, a sword-fishing boat from Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Ten years ago: Insurgents slaughtered 11 Iraqi soldiers, declaring on an Islamic militant website that Iraqi fighters would avenge "the blood" of women and children killed in U.S. strikes on the guerrilla stronghold of Fallujah. Boston Red Sox fans turned out by the tens of thousands near historic Fenway Park to celebrate their World Series champion team, the city's first since 1918.

Five years ago: Taliban militants stormed a guest house used by U.N. staff in the heart of the Afghan capital, leaving 11 dead, including five U.N. staff and three attackers. A car bomb exploded in a crowded market in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing at least 112. Angela Merkel was sworn in for a second term as German chancellor. The defending champion Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Yankees 6-1 in Game 1 of the World Series.

One year ago: Penn State said it would pay $59.7 million to 26 young men over claims of child sexual abuse at the hands of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. The Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 for a 3-2 World Series edge.

Today's Birthdays: Jazz singer Cleo Laine is 87. Actress Joan Plowright is 85. Musician-songwriter Charlie Daniels is 78. Actress Jane Alexander is 75. Singer Curtis Lee is 73. Actor Dennis Franz is 70. Pop singer Wayne Fontana is 69. Actress Telma Hopkins is 66. Olympic track and field gold medalist Bruce Jenner is 65. Actress Annie Potts is 62. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is 59. The former president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is 58. Rock musician Stephen Morris (New Order) is 57. Country/gospel singer-musician Ron Hemby (The Buffalo Club) is 56. Rock singer-musician William Reid (The Jesus & Mary Chain) is 56. Actor Mark Derwin is 54. Actress Daphne Zuniga is 52. Actress Lauren Holly is 51. Talk show host-comedian-actress Sheryl Underwood is 51. Actress Jami Gertz is 49. Actor Chris Bauer is 48. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 48. Actress Julia Roberts is 47. Country singer-musician Caitlin Cary is 46. Actor Jeremy Davies is 45. Singer Ben Harper is 45. Country singer Brad Paisley is 42. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 40. Singer Justin Guarini (TV: "American Idol") is 36. Pop singer Brett Dennen is 35. Rock musician Dave Tirio (Plain White T's) is 35. Actress Troian Bellisario is 29. Singer/rapper Frank Ocean is 27. Actor Nolan Gould is 16.

Thought for Today: "We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems." John W. Gardner, U.S. government official and founder of Common Cause (1912-2002).