Today in History

Today is Friday, October 16, the 289th day of 2015. There are 76 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On October 16, 1995, a vast throng of black men gathered in Washington, D.C. for the "Million Man March" led by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

On this date:

In 1793, during the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, was beheaded.

In 1859, radical abolitionist John Brown led a group of 21 men in a raid on Harpers Ferry in western Virginia. (Ten of Brown's men were killed and five escaped. Brown and six followers were captured; all were executed.)

In 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, New York. (The clinic ended up being raided on October 25 by police who arrested Sanger.)

In 1934, Chinese Communists, under siege by the Nationalists, began their "long march" lasting a year from southeastern to northwestern China.

In 1943, Chicago Mayor Edward J. Kelly officially opened the city's new subway system during a ceremony at the State and Madison street station.

In 1951, Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads recorded "Cry" by Churchill Kohlman and "The Little White Cloud That Cried" (written by Ray) in New York for Okeh Records.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy was informed that reconnaissance photographs had revealed the presence of missile bases in Cuba.

In 1968, American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos sparked controversy at the Mexico City Olympics by giving "black power" salutes during a victory ceremony after they'd won gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter race.

In 1969, the New York Mets capped their miracle season by winning the World Series, defeating the Baltimore Orioles, 5-3, in Game 5 played at Shea Stadium.

In 1978, the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church chose Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to be the new pope; he took the name John Paul II.

In 1984, Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of non-violent struggle for racial equality in South Africa.

In 1987, a 58-1/2-hour drama in Midland, Texas, ended happily as rescuers freed Jessica McClure, an 18-month-old girl trapped in an abandoned well.

Ten years ago: Polish television broadcast a recorded interview with Pope Benedict XVI, who said that he planned to visit Poland, the homeland of his predecessor, John Paul II. The Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 to win the American League Championship Series in five games, their first pennant since 1959. Elmer "Len" Dresslar Jr., the booming voice of the Jolly Green Giant, died at age 80.

Five years ago: Iran freed an American businessman jailed in Tehran for more than two years on suspicion of ties to an allegedly violent opposition group. (Reza Taghavi, 71, hadn't been charged with a crime and denied knowingly supporting the organization, known as Tondar.) Actress Barbara Billingsley, the matriarch of TV's "Leave It to Beaver," died in Santa Monica, California, at age 94.

One year ago: During a special congressional hearing on the Ebola crisis, Republican lawmakers pressed for a ban on travel to the U.S. from the West African outbreak zone; the White House resisted the idea and tried to tamp down fear as the pool of Americans being monitored expanded. Tim Hauser, founder and a member of the Grammy-winning vocal troupe The Manhattan Transfer, died in Sayre, Pennsylvania, at age 72. Travis Ishikawa hit the first homer to end an NL Championship Series, a three-run drive that sent San Francisco to a 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Angela Lansbury is 90. Actor-producer Tony Anthony is 78. Actor Barry Corbin is 75. Sportscaster Tim McCarver is 74. Rock musician C.F. Turner (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) is 72. Actress Suzanne Somers is 69. Rock singer-musician Bob Weir is 68. Producer-director David Zucker is 68. Record company executive Jim Ed Norman is 67. Actor Daniel Gerroll is 64. Actor Morgan Stevens is 64. Actress Martha Smith is 63. Comedian-actor Andy Kindler is 59. Actor-director Tim Robbins is 57. Actor-musician Gary Kemp is 56. Singer-musician Bob Mould is 55. Actor Randy Vasquez is 54. Rock musician Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 53. Actor Christian Stolte is 53. Actor Todd Stashwick is 47. Jazz musician Roy Hargrove is 46. Actress Terri J. Vaughn is 46. Singer Wendy Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 46. Rapper B-Rock (B-Rock and the Bizz) is 44. Rock singer Chad Gray (Mudvayne) is 44. Actor Paul Sparks is 44. Actress Kellie Martin is 40. Singer John Mayer is 38. Actor Jeremy Jackson is 35. Actress Caterina Scorsone is 35. Actress Brea Grant is 34.

Thought for Today: "No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong." -- Francois, Duc de la Rochefoucauld, French moralist (1613-1680).

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