Today in History

Today is Saturday, Sept. 19, the 263rd day of 2020. There are 103 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Sept. 19, 1881, the 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield, died 21/2 months after being shot by Charles Guiteau; Chester Alan Arthur became president.

On this date:

In 1783, Jacques Etienne Montgolfier launched a duck, a sheep and a rooster aboard a hot-air balloon at Versailles in France.

In 1796, President George Washington's farewell address was published. In it, America's first chief executive advised, "Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all."

In 1934, Bruno Hauptmann was arrested in New York and charged with the kidnap-murder of 20-month-old Charles A. Lindbergh Jr.

In 1955, President Juan Peron of Argentina was ousted after a revolt by the army and navy.

In 1984, Britain and China completed a draft agreement on transferring Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule by 1997.

In 1985, the Mexico City area was struck by a devastating earthquake that killed at least 9,500 people.

In 1986, federal health officials announced that the experimental drug AZT would be made available to thousands of AIDS patients.

In 1995, The New York Times and The Washington Post published the manifesto of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, which proved instrumental in identifying and capturing him.

In 1996, IBM announced it would extend health benefits to the partners of its gay employees.

In 2001, The Pentagon ordered dozens of advanced aircraft to the Persian Gulf region as the hour of military retaliation for deadly terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 drew closer.

In 2004, Hu Jintao became the undisputed leader of China with the departure of former President Jiang Zemin from his top military post.

In 2008, struggling to stave off financial catastrophe, the Bush administration laid out a radical bailout plan calling for a takeover of a half-trillion dollars or more in worthless mortgages and other bad debt held by tottering institutions. Relieved investors sent stocks soaring on Wall Street and around the globe.

Ten years ago: The BP oil well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico was declared "effectively dead" by retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the government's point man on the blowout disaster, after it was sealed with a permanent cement plug. On the final day of his four-day visit to Britain, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman, the 19th century Anglican convert.

Five years ago: Pope Francis, arriving in Havana, hailed detente between Cuba and the United States as a model of reconciliation for the world as he launched a 10-day tour of the former Cold War foes. President Barack Obama paid tribute to Black women for their role in helping shape American democracy as he delivered the keynote address to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual awards dinner. Jackie Collins, 77, the bestselling author of dozens of novels including "Hollywood Wives," died in Los Angeles.

One year ago: Under orders from the Trump administration, the intelligence community's inspector general refused to tell members of a House panel what was in a whistleblower's complaint about a private conversation between President Donald Trump and Ukraine's president. Trump began responding to published reports about the phone call, tweeting that he would never "say something inappropriate with a foreign leader while on such a potentially 'heavily populated' call," and that he would only "do what is right anyway." As the U.S. and Saudi Arabia considered a response to a drone-and-missile strike on the Saudi oil industry, Iran's top diplomat warned that an attack by either country would bring "all-out war." New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German was put on administrative leave as Major League Baseball investigated an alleged domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend. (The pitcher would miss the rest of the season as part of a suspension that would also cover all of the abbreviated 2020 season.)

Today's Birthdays: Author Roger Angell is 100. Actor Rosemary Harris is 93. Actor David McCallum is 87. Singer-songwriter Paul Williams is 80. Singer Bill Medley is 80. Singer Sylvia Tyson (Ian and Sylvia) is 80. R&B singer Freda Payne is 78. Retired professional golfer Jane Blalock is 75. Singer David Bromberg is 75. Actor Randolph Mantooth is 75. Rock singer-musician Lol Creme (10cc) is 73. Former NFL running back Larry Brown is 73. Actor Jeremy Irons is 72. Actor Twiggy Lawson is 71. TV personality Joan Lunden is 70. Singer-producer Daniel Lanois is 69. Actor Scott Colomby is 68. Musician-producer Nile Rodgers is 68. Singer-actor Rex Smith is 65. Rock singer Lita Ford is 62. Actor Kevin Hooks is 62. Actor Carolyn McCormick is 61. Celebrity chef Mario Batali is 60. Actor-comedian Cheri Oteri is 58. Country singer Jeff Bates is 57. Country singer Trisha Yearwood is 56. News anchor Soledad O'Brien is 54. Celebrity chef Michael Symon is 51. Actor Victor Williams is 50. Actor Sanaa Lathan is 49. Actor Stephanie J. Block is 48. Rock singer A. Jay Popoff (Lit) is 47. "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon is 46. TV personality Carter Oosterhouse is 44. Actor-TV host Alison Sweeney is 44. Rock musician Ryan Dusick is 43. Folk-rock singers-musicians Sara and Tegan Quin are 40. Actor Columbus Short is 38. Rapper Eamon is 37. Actor Kevin Zegers is 36. Actor Danielle Panabaker is 33. Actor Katrina Bowden is 32.