Today in History

Today is Thursday, October 1, the 274th day of 2015. There are 91 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On October 1, 1940, the first section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike -- described as America's first superhighway -- opened to the public, stretching 160 miles from Carlisle to Irwin.

On this date:

In 1890, Congress passed the McKinley Tariff Act, which raised tariffs to a record level.

In 1908, Henry Ford introduced his Model T automobile to the market.

In 1932, Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees made his supposed called shot, hitting a home run against Chicago's Charlie Root in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the World Series, won by the New York Yankees 7-5 at Wrigley Field.

In 1939, Winston Churchill described Russia as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma" during a radio address on the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

In 1955, the situation comedy "The Honeymooners," starring Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph, premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1957, the motto "In God We Trust" began appearing on U.S. paper currency.

In 1961, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit his 61st home run during a 162-game season, compared to Babe Ruth's 60 home runs during a 154-game season. (Tracy Stallard of the Boston Red Sox gave up the round-tripper; the Yankees won 1-0.)

In 1964, the Free Speech Movement began at the University of California, Berkeley. Japan's first high-speed "bullet train," the Tokaido Shinkansen, went into operation between Tokyo and Osaka.

In 1965, the science-fiction novel "Dune" by Frank Herbert was published by Chilton Books. The Byrds' single "Turn! Turn! Turn!" was released by Columbia Records.

In 1971, Walt Disney World opened near Orlando, Florida.

In 1987, eight people were killed when an earthquake measuring magnitude 5.9 struck the Los Angeles area.

In 1995, Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman and nine other defendants were convicted in New York of conspiring to attack the United States through bombings, assassinations and kidnappings.

Ten years ago: Three suicide bombers struck three restaurants in Bali, Indonesia, killing 20 victims. U.S. millionaire scientist Gregory Olsen and an American-Russian crew blasted off from Kazakhstan on a journey to the international space station.

Five years ago: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, planning an ultimately successful Chicago mayoral run, relinquished his post to Pete Rouse. CNN fired anchor Rick Sanchez a day after he called Jon Stewart a bigot during a radio interview in which he also questioned whether Jews should be considered a minority. Georgy Arbatov, 87, a foreign policy adviser to Soviet presidents and the Kremlin's top America watcher, died in Moscow.

One year ago: Secret Service Director Julia Pierson abruptly resigned in the face of multiple revelations of security breaches, bumbling in her agency and rapidly eroding confidence that the president and his family were being kept safe. (Pierson was succeeded by Joseph Clancy.) In a striking public rebuke, the Obama administration warned Israel that plans for a controversial new housing project in east Jerusalem would distance Israel from "even its closest allies" and raise questions about its commitment to seeking peace with Palestinians.

Today's Birthdays: Former President Jimmy Carter is 91. Actress-singer Julie Andrews is 80. Actress Stella Stevens is 77. Rock musician Jerry Martini (Sly and the Family Stone) is 72. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew is 70. Jazz musician Dave Holland is 69. Actress Yvette Freeman is 65. Actor Randy Quaid is 65. Rhythm-and-blues singer Howard Hewett is 60. Alt-country-rock musician Tim O'Reagan (The Jayhawks) is 57. Singer Youssou N'Dour is 56. Actor Esai Morales is 53. Retired MLB All-Star Mark McGwire is 52. Actor Christopher Titus is 51. Actress-model Cindy Margolis is 50. Rock singer-musician Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) is 47. Actor Zach Galifianakis is 46. Singer Keith Duffy is 41. Actress Sarah Drew is 35. Actor-comedian Beck Bennett is 31. Actress Jurnee Smollett is 29. Actress Brie Larson is 26.

Thought for Today: "Everybody favors free speech in the slack moments when no axes are being ground." -- Heywood C. Broun, American journalist (1888-1939).

Copyright 2015, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.