Today in History

Today in History

Today is Sunday, Aug. 13, the 225th day of 2017. There are 140 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On August 13, 1967, the crime caper biopic "Bonnie and Clyde," starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, had its U.S. premiere; the movie, directed by Arthur Penn, was considered shocking as well as innovative for its graphic portrayal of violence.

On this date:

In 1624, King Louis XIII of France appointed Cardinal Richelieu his first minister.

In 1792, French revolutionaries imprisoned the royal family.

In 1846, the American flag was raised for the first time in Los Angeles.

In 1910, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, died in London at age 90.

In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was again elected Speaker of Turkey's Grand Assembly.

In 1934, the satirical comic strip "Li'l Abner," created by Al Capp, made its debut.

In 1942, Walt Disney's animated feature "Bambi" had its U.S. premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York, five days after its world premiere in London.

In 1961, East Germany sealed off the border between Berlin's eastern and western sectors before building a wall that would divide the city for the next 28 years.

In 1979, Lou Brock of the St. Louis Cardinals became the 14th player in major league baseball history to reach the 3,000th career hit plateau as his team defeated the Chicago Cubs, 3-2.

In 1981, in a ceremony at his California ranch, President Ronald Reagan signed a historic package of tax and budget reductions.

In 1989, searchers in Ethiopia found the wreckage of a plane which had disappeared almost a week earlier while carrying Rep. Mickey Leland, D-Texas, and 14 other people -- there were no survivors.

In 1997, the animated comedy series "South Park" began airing on Comedy Central. The British comedy-drama "The Full Monty" was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush's political strategist, Karl Rove, announced his resignation. A bridge under construction in the ancient Chinese city of Fenghuang collapsed, killing 64 people. Two women among the 23 South Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan were freed. Philanthropist Brooke Astor died in Briarcliff Manor, New York, at age 105. Hall of Fame Yankees shortstop and broadcaster Phil Rizzuto died in West Orange, New Jersey, at age 89.

Five years ago: A routine serving of an eviction notice to a man living near the Texas A&M University campus turned deadly when the resident opened fire, leading to the death of a law enforcement officer and another man before the gunman was killed. Helen Gurley Brown, 90, the longtime editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, died in New York. The Boston Red Sox's unofficial goodwill ambassador, Johnny Pesky, died at age 92.

One year ago: Violence erupted in Milwaukee following the fatal shooting of Sylville Smith, a 23-year-old black man, by a black police officer, Dominique Heaggan-Brown, who was later acquitted of first-degree reckless homicide. An imam, Maulana Alauddin Akonjee, and his assistant were shot to death as they left a mosque in Queens, New York; a suspect has pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges. Michael Phelps closed out the Rio Olympics with another gold medal, the 23rd of his career, as he put the United States ahead to stay on the butterfly leg of the 4x100 medley relay and Nathan Adrian finished it off. Kenny Baker, who played R2-D2 in the "Star Wars" movies, died in Preston, England, at age 81.

Today's Birthdays: Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders is 84. Actor Kevin Tighe is 73. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is 71. Opera singer Kathleen Battle is 69. High wire aerialist Philippe Petit is 68. Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke is 68. Golf Hall of Famer Betsy King is 62. Movie director Paul Greengrass is 62. Actor Danny Bonaduce is 58. TV weatherman Sam Champion is 56. Actress Dawnn (correct) Lewis is 56. Actor John Slattery is 55. Actress Debi Mazar is 53. Actress Quinn Cummings is 50. Actress Seana Kofoed is 47. Country singer Andy Griggs is 44. Actor Gregory Fitoussi is 41. Country musician Mike Melancon (Emerson Drive) is 39. Actress Kathryn Fiore is 38. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is 35. Actor Sebastian Stan is 35. Pop-rock singer James Morrison is 33. Actress Lennon Stella is 18.

Thought for Today: "It is always too late, or too little, or both. And that is the road to disaster." -- David Lloyd George, English statesman (1863-1945).