Today in History

Today is Tuesday, June 9, the 160th day of 2015. There are 205 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 9, A.D. 68, Roman Emperor Nero committed suicide, ending a 13-year reign.

On this date:

In 1870, author Charles Dickens died in Gad's Hill Place, England.

In 1911, Carrie (sometimes spelled "Carry") A. Nation, the hatchet-wielding temperance crusader, died in Leavenworth, Kansas, at age 64.

In 1915, guitarist, songwriter and inventor Les Paul was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

In 1934, the first Walt Disney animated cartoon featuring Donald Duck, "The Wise Little Hen," was released.

In 1940, during World War II, Norway decided to surrender to the Nazis, effective at midnight.

In 1943, the federal government began withholding income tax from paychecks.

In 1953, 94 people died when a tornado struck Worcester, Massachusetts.

In 1954, during the Senate-Army Hearings, Army special counsel Joseph N. Welch famously berated Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., asking McCarthy: "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"

In 1969, the Senate confirmed Warren Burger to be the new chief justice of the United States, succeeding Earl Warren.

In 1973, Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes, becoming horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.

In 1985, American educator Thomas Sutherland was kidnapped in Lebanon by members of Islamic Jihad; he was released in November 1991 along with fellow hostage Terry Waite.

In 1994, a fire destroyed the Georgia mansion of Atlanta Falcons receiver Andre Rison; his girlfriend, rap singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, admitted causing the blaze after a fight, and was later sentenced to probation.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush defended the USA Patriot Act, saying it had made America safer and should be made permanent. Italian aid worker Clementina Cantoni was freed after having been held hostage more than three weeks in Afghanistan.

Five years ago: The U.S. and its allies scored a long-sought victory by pushing through new U.N. sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, punishments Tehran dismissed as "annoying flies." The Chicago Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years, as Patrick Kane's overtime goal delivered a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6.

One year ago: In a wide-ranging review, the Veterans Affairs Department said more than 57,000 U.S. military veterans had been waiting 90 days or more for their first VA medical appointments, and an additional 64,000 appeared to have fallen through the cracks, never getting appointments after enrolling and requesting them. Five American special operations troops were killed by a U.S. airstrike called in to help them after they were ambushed by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. British comedian Rik Mayall, 56, died in London.

Today's Birthdays: Comedian Jackie Mason is 87. Media analyst Marvin Kalb is 85. Actor Joe Santos is 84. Former baseball manager and player Bill Virdon is 84. Sports commentator Dick Vitale is 76. Author Letty Cottin Pogrebin is 76. Retired MLB All-Star Dave Parker is 64. Film composer James Newton Howard ("The Hunger Games" films) is 64. Mystery author Patricia Cornwell is 59. Actor Michael J. Fox is 54. Writer-producer Aaron Sorkin is 54. Actor Johnny Depp is 52. Actress Gloria Reuben is 51. Gospel singer-actress Tamela Mann is 49. Rock musician Dean Felber (Hootie & the Blowfish) is 48. Rock musician Dean Dinning is 48. Musician Ed Simons is 45. Country musician Shade Deggs (Cole Deggs and the Lonesome) is 41. Bluegrass singer-musician Jamie Dailey (Dailey & Vincent) is 40. Actress Michaela Conlin is 37. Actress Natalie Portman is 34. Actress Mae Whitman is 27.

Thought for Today: "It's innocence when it charms us, ignorance when it doesn't." -- Mignon McLaughlin, American journalist (1913-1983).

Copyright 2015, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.