Today in History

Today in History

Today is Monday, Sept. 11, the 254th day of 2017. There are 111 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed as 19 al-Qaida hijackers seized control of four jetliners, sending two of the planes into New York's World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania.

On this date:

In 1297, Scottish rebels led by William Wallace and Andrew Moray defeated English troops in the Battle of Stirling Bridge during the First War of Scottish Independence.

In 1714, the forces of King Philip V of Spain overcame Catalan defenders to end the 13-month-long Siege of Barcelona during the War of the Spanish Succession.

In 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

In 1814, an American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.

In 1857, the Mountain Meadows Massacre took place in present-day southern Utah as a 120-member Arkansas immigrant party was slaughtered by Mormon militiamen aided by Paiute Indians.

In 1936, Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) began operation as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a key in Washington to signal the startup of the dam's first hydroelectric generator.

In 1941, groundbreaking took place for the Pentagon. In a speech that drew accusations of anti-Semitism, Charles A. Lindbergh told an America First rally in Des Moines, Iowa, that "the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt administration" were pushing the United States toward war.

In 1954, the Miss America pageant made its network TV debut on ABC; Miss California, Lee Meriwether, was crowned the winner.

In 1967, the comedy-variety program "The Carol Burnett Show" premiered on CBS.

In 1974, Eastern Airlines Flight 212, a DC-9, crashed while attempting to land in Charlotte, North Carolina, killing 72 of the 82 people on board.

In 1985, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds cracked career hit number 4,192 off Eric Show of the San Diego Padres, eclipsing the record held by Ty Cobb. (The Reds won the game, 2-0).

In 1997, Scots voted to create their own Parliament after 290 years of union with England.

Ten years ago: A new Osama bin Laden videotape was released on the sixth anniversary of 9/11; in it, the al-Qaida leader's voice is heard commemorating one of the suicide hijackers and calling on young Muslims to follow his example by martyring themselves in attacks. China signed an agreement to prohibit the use of lead paint on toys exported to the United States.

Five years ago: A mob armed with guns and grenades launched a fiery nightlong attack on a U.S. diplomatic outpost and a CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya, killing U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney toned down the campaign rhetoric and pulled negative ads amid commemorations of the 9/11 attacks, saying it was not a day for politics.

One year ago: The U.S. marked the 15th anniversary of 9/11 with the solemn roll call of the dead at ground zero. Hillary Clinton abruptly left after feeling "overheated," according to her campaign, and hours later her doctor disclosed that the Democratic presidential nominee had pneumonia. Stan Wawrinka wore Novak Djokovic down and beat the defending champion 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 for his first U.S. Open title and third Grand Slam trophy overall. Savvy Shields of Arkansas was crowned Miss America 2017 at the pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Today's Birthdays: Former Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, is 93. Actor Earl Holliman is 89. Comedian Tom Dreesen is 78. Movie director Brian De Palma is 77. Singer-actress-dancer Lola Falana is 75. Rock musician Mickey Hart (The Dead) is 74. Singer-musician Leo Kottke is 72. Actor Phillip Alford is 69. Actress Amy Madigan is 67. Rock singer-musician Tommy Shaw (Styx) is 64. Sports reporter Lesley Visser is 64. Actor Reed Birney is 63. Singer-songwriter Diane Warren is 61. Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh (jay) Johnson is 60. Musician Jon Moss (Culture Club) is 60. Actor Scott Patterson is 59. Rock musician Mick Talbot (The Style Council) is 59. Actress Roxann Dawson is 59. Actor John Hawkes is 58. Actress Anne Ramsay is 57. Actress Virginia Madsen is 56. Actress Kristy McNichol is 55. Musician-composer Moby is 52. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is 52. Business reporter Maria Bartiromo is 50. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 50. Rock musician Bart Van Der Zeeuw is 49. Actress Taraji P. Henson is 47. Actress Laura Wright is 47. Rock musician Jeremy Popoff (Lit) is 46. Blogger Markos Moulitsas is 46. Singer Brad Fischetti (LFO) is 42. Rapper Mr. Black is 40. Rock musician Jon Buckland (Coldplay) is 40. Rapper Ludacris is 40. Rock singer Ben Lee is 39. Actor Ryan Slattery is 39. Actress Ariana Richards is 38. Country singer Charles Kelley (Lady Antebellum) is 36. Actress Elizabeth Henstridge is 30. Actor Tyler Hoechlin is 30. Actress Mackenzie Aladjem is 16.

Thought for Today: "I have seen gross intolerance shown in support of tolerance." -- Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English poet and author (1772-1834).