Today in History

Today is Tuesday, May 26, the 146th day of 2015. There are 219 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On May 26, 1940, Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of some 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, began during World War II.

On this date:

In 1521, Martin Luther was banned by the Edict of Worms because of his religious beliefs and writings.

In 1865, Confederate forces west of the Mississippi surrendered in New Orleans.

In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson ended with his acquittal on the remaining charges.

In 1913, Actors' Equity Association was organized by a group of actors at the Pabst Grand Circle Hotel in New York.

In 1938, the House Un-American Activities Committee was established by Congress.

In 1942, the U.S. War Department formally established the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS). The Tule Lake Segregation Center for Japanese-American wartime internees opened in northern California.

In 1954, explosions rocked the aircraft carrier USS Bennington off Rhode Island, killing 103 sailors. (The initial blast was blamed on leaking catapult fluid ignited by the flames of a jet.)

In 1960, U.N. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge accused the Soviets of hiding a microphone inside a wood carving of the Great Seal of the United States that had been presented to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

In 1969, the Apollo 10 astronauts returned to Earth after a successful eight-day dress rehearsal for the first manned moon landing.

In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in Moscow. (The U.S. withdrew from the treaty in 2002.)

In 1981, 14 people were killed when a Marine jet crashed onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off Florida.

In 1994, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married in the Dominican Republic. (The marriage, however, ended in 1996.)

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush received Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at the White House; Bush called Abbas a courageous democratic reformer and bolstered his standing at home with $50 million in assistance. Investigators confirmed five cases in which military personnel mishandled the Qurans of Muslim prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, but said they had found no "credible evidence" that a holy book was flushed in a toilet. Actor Eddie Albert died in Los Angeles at age 99. Internationally acclaimed concert pianist Ruth Laredo, 67, died in New York.

Five years ago: BP launched its latest bid to plug the gushing well in the Gulf of Mexico by force-feeding it heavy drilling mud, a maneuver known as a "top kill" which proved unsuccessful. TV personality Art Linkletter died in Los Angeles at age 97. Lee DeWyze was crowned the winner of "American Idol" over Crystal Bowersox.

One year ago: Pope Francis honored Jews killed in the Holocaust and in terrorist attacks during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem as he wrapped up his Mideast pilgrimage. Egypt began holding a three-day presidential election (former military chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi emerged the landslide winner).

Today's Birthdays: Actor Alec McCowen is 90. Sportscaster Brent Musberger is 76. Rock musician Garry Peterson (Guess Who) is 70. Singer Stevie Nicks is 67. Actress Pam Grier is 66. Actor Philip Michael Thomas is 66. Country singer Hank Williams Jr. is 66. Actress Margaret Colin is 58. Country singer-songwriter Dave Robbins is 56. Actor Doug Hutchison is 55. Actress Genie Francis is 53. Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait is 53. Singer-actor Lenny Kravitz is 51. Actress Helena Bonham Carter is 49. Distance runner Zola Budd is 49. Rock musician Phillip Rhodes is 47. Actor Joseph Fiennes is 45. Singer Joey Kibble (Take 6) is 44. Actor-producer-writer Matt Stone is 44. Contemporary Christian musician Nathan Cochran is 37. Actress Elisabeth Harnois is 36. Actor Hrach Titizian is 36.

Thought for Today: "Courage is being scared to death -- and saddling up anyway." -- John Wayne, American actor (born this date in 1907, died 1979).

Copyright 2015, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.