Today in History

Today in History

Today is Thursday, Aug. 29, the 241st day of 2019. There are 124 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Aug. 29, 1944, 15,000 American troops of the 28th Infantry Division marched down the Champs Elysees in Paris as the French capital continued to celebrate its liberation from the Nazis.

On this date:

In 1814, during the War of 1812, Alexandria, Virginia, formally surrendered to British military forces, which occupied the city until Sept. 3.

In 1862, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing began operations at the United States Treasury.

In 1877, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Brigham Young, died in Salt Lake City, Utah, at age 76.

In 1957, the Senate gave final congressional approval to a Civil Rights Act after South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond (then a Democrat) ended a filibuster that had lasted 24 hours.

In 1958, pop superstar Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana.

In 1965, Gemini 5, carrying astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles "Pete" Conrad, splashed down in the Atlantic after eight days in space.

In 1966, the Beatles concluded their fourth American tour with their last public concert, held at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

In 1972, swimmer Mark Spitz of the United States won the third of his seven gold medals at the Munich Olympics, finishing first in the 200-meter freestyle.

In 1982, Academy Award-winning actress Ingrid Bergman died in London on her 67th birthday.

In 1996, the Democratic National Convention in Chicago nominated Al Gore for a second term as vice president. Earlier in the day, President Bill Clinton's chief political strategist, Dick Morris, resigned amid a scandal over his relationship with a prostitute.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast near Buras, Louisiana, bringing floods that devastated New Orleans. More than 1,800 people in the region died.

In 2008, Republican presidential nominee John McCain picked Sarah Palin, a maverick conservative who had been governor of Alaska for less than two years, to be his running mate.

Ten years ago: Funeral services were held in Boston for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who was eulogized by President Barack Obama; hours later, Kennedy's remains were buried at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington. Eight people were found beaten to death at a mobile home in Glynn County, Georgia; family member Guy Heinze Jr., who reported finding the bodies, was later convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Space shuttle Discovery and seven astronauts blazed into orbit on a flight to the international space station.

Five years ago: A federal judge threw out new Texas abortion restrictions that would have effectively closed more than a dozen clinics statewide in a victory for opponents of tough new anti-abortion laws sweeping across the U.S. (The Supreme Court later struck down parts of the Texas anti-abortion measure as an "undue burden" on access to abortion.)

One year ago: Sen. John McCain was remembered as a "true American hero" at a crowded service at the North Phoenix Baptist Church after a motorcade carried McCain's body from the state Capitol. Kanye West apologized on a Chicago radio station (WGCI) for calling slavery a "choice." The government reported that the economy had grown at a strong 4.2 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter, the best showing in nearly four years. Paul Taylor, a towering figure in American modern dance, died at a New York hospital at the age of 88.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Betty Lynn (TV: "The Andy Griffith Show") is 93. Movie director William Friedkin is 84. Actor Elliott Gould is 81. Movie director Joel Schumacher is 80. Actress Deborah Van Valkenburgh is 67. Former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew is 64. Dancer-choreographer Mark Morris is 63. Country musician Dan Truman (Diamond Rio) is 63. Actress Rebecca DeMornay is 60. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is 52. Singer Me'Shell NdegeOcello is 51. Rhythm-and-blues singer Carl Martin (Shai) is 49. Actress Carla Gugino is 48. Rock musician Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty) is 44. Actor John Hensley is 42. Actress Kate Simses is 40. Rock musician David Desrosiers (Simple Plan) is 39. Rapper A+ is 37. Actress Jennifer Landon is 36. Actor Jeffrey Licon is 34. Actress-singer Lea Michele is 33. Actress Charlotte Ritchie is 30. Actress Nicole Gale Anderson is 29. MLB pitcher Noah Syndergaard is 27. Rock singer Liam Payne (One Direction) is 26.

Thought for Today: "Be yourself. The world worships the original." -- Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982).

Copyright 2019, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.