Today is Monday, Jan. 2, the second day of 2006. There are 363 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Jan. 2, 1900, Secretary of State John Hay announced the Open Door policy to facilitate trade with China.
On this date:
In 1492, the leader of the last Arab stronghold in Spain surrendered to Spanish forces loyal to King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I.
In 1788, Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
In 1921, religious services were broadcast on radio for the first time as KDKA in Pittsburgh aired the regular Sunday service of the city’s Calvary Episcopal Church.
In 1929, the United States and Canada reached agreement on joint action to preserve Niagara Falls.
In 1935, Bruno Hauptmann went on trial in Flemington, N.J., on charges of kidnapping and murdering the 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. (Hauptmann was found guilty, and executed.)
In 1942, the Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II.
In 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
In 1965, the New York Jets signed University of Alabama quarterback Joe Namath for a reported $400,000.
In 1974, President Nixon signed legislation requiring states to limit highway speeds to 55 mph (however, federal speed limits were abolished in 1995).
In 1986, former baseball owner Bill Veeck, remembered for his well-publicized stunts and promotional gimmicks, including an exploding scoreboard and a midget pinch-hitter, died in Chicago at age 71.
Ten years ago: Former Interior Secretary James Watt pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of attempting to sway a grand jury investigating 1980s influence-peddling at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Watt was later fined and sentenced to five years’ probation.) AT&T announced it would eliminate 40,000 jobs, mostly through layoffs.
Five years ago: President-elect Bush tapped Democrat Norman Y. Mineta to be his transportation secretary, Spencer Abraham to be energy secretary and Linda Chavez to be secretary of labor. (Chavez later withdrew after it was disclosed she had given money and shelter to an illegal immigrant who once did chores around Chavez’s house.) Ships made the first legal and direct crossing between China and Taiwan in more than half a century. Former U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of State William P. Rogers died at age 87.
One year ago: NFL teams joined Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova and other sports figures around the world in assisting the relief mission for the tsunami-earthquake catastrophe in southern Asia.
Today’s Birthdays: Former television evangelist Jim Bakker is 67. Actress Wendy Phillips is 54. Actress Gabrielle Carteris is 45. Movie director Todd Haynes is 45. Actress Tia Carrere is 39. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is 38. Model Christy Turlington is 37. Actor Taye Diggs is 35. Rock musician Scott Underwood (Train) is 35. Rock singer Doug Robb (Hoobastank) is 31. Actor Dax Shepard is 31. Actress Paz Vega is 30. Country musician Chris Hartman is 28. Actress Kate Bosworth is 23.
Thought for Today: “It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” — Ursula K. Le Guin, American author.