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Today in history: June 5

Celebrity birthdays, highlights in history, plus more facts about this day
/ Source: The Associated Press

Today is Monday, June 5, the 156th day of 2006. There are 209 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:
On June fifth, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles’ Ambassador Hotel after claiming victory in California’s Democratic presidential primary. Gunman Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was immediately arrested.

On this date:
In 1884, Civil War hero General William T. Sherman refused the Republican presidential nomination, saying, “I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected.”

In 1917, about ten million American men began registering for the draft in World War I.

In 1933, the United States went off the gold standard.

In 1940, the Battle of France began during World War II.

In 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall gave a speech at Harvard University in which he outlined an aid program for Europe that came to be known as “The Marshall Plan.”

In 1967, war erupted in the Mideast as Israel raided Egyptian military targets. Syria, Jordan and Iraq entered the conflict.

In 1976, eleven people were killed when the Teton Dam in Idaho burst.

In 1981, the Centers for Disease Control reported that five homosexuals in Los Angeles had come down with a rare kind of pneumonia; they were the first recognized cases of what later became known as AIDS.

In 1986, a federal jury in Baltimore convicted Ronald W. Pelton of selling secrets to the Soviet Union. (Pelton was sentenced to three life prison terms plus ten years.)

In 2004, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, died in Los Angeles at age 93 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Ten years ago: Joseph Waldholtz, the ex-husband of U-S Representative Enid Greene (Republican, Utah), pleaded guilty to providing his wife false information for her taxes and to falsifying spending reports from her congressional campaign.

Five years ago: Senate Republicans spent their last full day in power before turning control over to Democrats, a change that came about because of a decision by Vermont Senator James Jeffords to leave the GOP and become an independent.

One year ago: “Monty Python’s Spamalot” won three Tony Awards, including best musical; the musical play “The Light in the Piazza” won six prizes, while “Doubt” was named best drama. Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal beat unseeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 to win the French Open men’s singles title.

Today’s Birthdays: Broadcast journalist Bill Moyers is 72. Rhythm-and-blues singer Floyd Butler (Friends of Distinction) is 65. Country singer Don Reid (The Statler Brothers) is 61. Rock musician Fred Stone (Sly and the Family Stone) is 60. Rock singer Laurie Anderson is 59. Country singer Gail Davies is 58. Author Ken Follett is 57. Rock musician Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden) is 54. Jazz musician Kenny G is 50. Rock singer Richard Butler (Psychedelic Furs) is 50. Actor Jeff Garlin is 44. Actress Karen Sillas is 41. Actor Ron Livingston is 39. Singer Brian McKnight is 37. Rock musician Claus Norreen (Aqua) is 36. Actor Mark Wahlberg is 35. Actor Chad Allen is 32. Rock musician P-nut (311) is 32. Actress Liza Weil is 29. Rock musician Seb Lefebvre (Simple Plan) is 25.

Thought for Today: “The only folks who give us pain are those we love the best.” -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox, American poet (1850-1919).