Today in History

Today in History

Today is Monday, Oct. 10, the 284th day of 2016. There are 82 days left in the year. This is Columbus Day in the United States, as well as Thanksgiving Day in Canada.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 10, 1966, the Beach Boys' single "Good Vibrations" by Brian Wilson and Mike Love was released by Capitol Records.

On this date:

In A.D. 19, Roman general Germanicus Julius Caesar, 33, died in Antioch under mysterious circumstances, possibly from poisoning.

In 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy was established in Annapolis, Maryland.

In 1913, the Panama Canal was effectively completed as President Woodrow Wilson sent a signal from the White House by telegraph, setting off explosives that destroyed a section of the Gamboa dike.

In 1935, the George Gershwin opera "Porgy and Bess," featuring an all-black cast, opened on Broadway, where it ran for 124 performances.

In 1938, Nazi Germany completed its annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland.

In 1943, Chiang Kai-shek took the oath of office as president of China.

In 1956, the New York Yankees won the World Series, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers, 9-0, in Game 7 at Ebbets Field.

In 1967, the Outer Space Treaty, prohibiting the placing of weapons of mass destruction on the moon or elsewhere in space, entered into force.

In 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, accused of accepting bribes, pleaded no contest to one count of federal income tax evasion, and resigned his office.

In 1985, U.S. fighter jets forced an Egyptian plane carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro to land in Italy, where the gunmen were taken into custody. Actor-director Orson Welles died in Los Angeles at age 70; actor Yul Brynner died in New York at age 65.

In 1997, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and its coordinator, Jody Williams, were named winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 2005, Angela Merkel struck a power-sharing deal that made her the first woman and politician from the ex-communist east to serve as Germany's chancellor.

Ten years ago: The Bush administration rejected anew direct talks with North Korea in the wake of the communist country's nuclear test, and suggested it was possible the test was something less than it appeared.

Five years ago: Christopher Sims and Thomas Sargent of the United States won the Nobel Prize in economics. NBA Commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the season after owners and players were unable to reach a new labor deal and end a lockout. Albert Pujols had one of the biggest postseason nights of his career in Game 2 of the NL championship series, going 4 for 5 with a home run, three doubles and five RBIs as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 12-3 to even the series at 1-1. Nelson Cruz hit the first game-ending grand slam in postseason history, lifting the Texas Rangers over the Detroit Tigers 7-3 in 11 innings for a 2-0 lead in the AL championship series.

One year ago: Twin bombings in Ankara killed 103 people at a peace rally in the worst terror attack in Turkey's modern history. Jerry Parr, the Secret Service agent credited with saving President Ronald Reagan's life on the day he was shot outside a Washington hotel, died at age 85.

Today's Birthdays: Former Illinois Sen. Adlai Stevenson III is 86. Actor Peter Coyote is 75. Entertainer Ben Vereen is 70. Singer John Prine is 70. Actor Charles Dance is 70. Rock singer-musician Cyril Neville (The Neville Brothers) is 68. Actress Jessica Harper is 67. Author Nora Roberts (aka "J.D. Robb") is 66. Singer-musician Midge Ure is 63. Rock singer David Lee Roth is 62. Actor J. Eddie Peck is 58. Country singer Tanya Tucker is 58. Actress Julia Sweeney is 57. Actor Bradley Whitford is 57. Musician Martin Kemp is 55. Actress Jodi Benson is 55. Rock musician Jim Glennie (James) is 53. Actress Rebecca Pidgeon is 51. Rock musician Mike Malinin (mah-LIHN'-ihn) (Goo Goo Dolls) is 49. Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre is 47. Actor Manu Bennett is 47. Actress Joelle Carter is 47. Actress Wendi McLendon-Covey is 47. Actor/TV host Mario Lopez is 43. Race driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 42. Actress Jodi Lyn O'Keefe is 38. Singer Mya is 37. Actor Dan Stevens is 34. Singer Cherie is 32. Actress Rose McIver is 28. Actress Aimee Teegarden is 27.

Thought for Today: "I have a strong moral sense -- by my standards." -- Rex Stout, American writer (1886-1975).