Today in History

Today is Saturday, September 5, the 248th day of 2015. There are 117 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On September 5, 1945, Japanese-American Iva Toguri D'Aquino, suspected of being wartime broadcaster "Tokyo Rose," was arrested in Yokohama. (D'Aquino was later convicted of treason and served six years in prison; she was pardoned in 1977 by President Gerald R. Ford.)

On this date:

In 1774, the first Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.

In 1793, the Reign of Terror began during the French Revolution as the National Convention instituted harsh measures to repress counter-revolutionary activities.

In 1836, Sam Houston was elected president of the Republic of Texas.

In 1914, the First Battle of the Marne, resulting in a French-British victory over Germany, began during World War I.

In 1939, four days after war had broken out in Europe, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation declaring U.S. neutrality in the conflict.

In 1957, the novel "On the Road," by Jack Kerouac, was first published by Viking Press.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed legislation making aircraft hijackings a federal crime.

In 1972, the Palestinian group Black September attacked the Israeli Olympic delegation at the Munich Games; 11 Israelis, five guerrillas and a police officer were killed in the resulting siege.

In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford escaped an attempt on his life by Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, in Sacramento, California.

In 1984, the space shuttle Discovery ended its inaugural flight as it landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

In 1995, France ended its three-year moratorium on nuclear tests, setting off an underground blast on a South Pacific atoll.

In 1997, breaking the royal reticence over the death of Princess Diana, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II delivered a televised address in which she called her former daughter-in-law "a remarkable person." Mother Teresa died in Calcutta, India, at age 87; conductor Sir Georg Solti died in France at age 84.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush nominated John Roberts to succeed the late William Rehnquist as chief justice of the United States. President Bush and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, during a Gulf Coast tour, consoled Hurricane Katrina victims and thanked relief workers. An Indonesian jetliner crashed, killing 149 people, including 49 on the ground; 17 passengers survived. Jerry Rice ended an NFL career that included three Super Bowls and records for most career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Five years ago: A Los Angeles police officer shot and killed Manuel Jaminez, a Guatemalan immigrant, in a case that sparked angry protests. (A civilian oversight panel later said the officer was justified in using deadly force against Jaminez, who witnessses said was drunk and threatening passersby with a knife.) Jefferson Thomas, one of nine black students to integrate a Little Rock high school in America's first major battle over school segregation, died in Columbus, Ohio, at age 67.

One year ago: The U.S. and 10 of its key allies, meeting in Wales, agreed that the Islamic State group was a significant threat to NATO countries and that they would take on the militants by squeezing their financial resources and going after them with military might. Ukraine, Russia and Kremlin-backed separatists signed a cease-fire after five months of bloodshed. Former CBS News and CNN correspondent Bruce Morton, 83, died in Washington.

Today's Birthdays: Former Federal Reserve Board chairman Paul A. Volcker is 88. Comedian-actor Bob Newhart is 86. Actress-singer Carol Lawrence is 83. Actor William Devane is 76. Actor George Lazenby is 76. Actress Raquel Welch is 75. Movie director Werner Herzog is 73. Singer Al Stewart is 70. Actor-director Dennis Dugan is 69. College Football Hall of Famer Jerry LeVias is 69. Singer Loudon Wainwright III is 69. "Cathy" cartoonist Cathy Guisewite is 65. Actor Michael Keaton is 64. Country musician Jamie Oldaker (The Tractors) is 64. Actress Debbie Turner-Larson (Marta in "The Sound of Music") is 59. Actress Kristian Alfonso is 52. Rhythm-and-blues singer Terry Ellis is 52. Rock musician Brad Wilk is 47. TV personality Dweezil Zappa is 46. Actress Rose McGowan is 42. Actress Carice Van Houten is 39. Actor Andrew Ducote is 29. Actress Kat Graham is 29. Olympic gold medal figure skater Kim Yu-na is 25. Actor Skandar Keynes is 24.

Thought for Today: "If moderation is a fault, then indifference is a crime." -- Jack Kerouac, American novelist (1922-1969).

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