Today is Saturday, July 1, the 182nd day of 2006. There are 183 days left in the year. This is Canada Day.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On July 1, 1946, the United States exploded a 20-kiloton atomic bomb near Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.
On this date:
In 1863, the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg began.
In 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain as the British North America Act took effect.
In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt and his “Rough Riders” waged a victorious assault on San Juan Hill in Cuba.
In 1916, Dwight D. Eisenhower married Mary (“Mamie”) Geneva Doud in Denver.
In 1961, Diana, the princess of Wales, was born near Sandringham, England. (She died in a 1997 car crash in Paris at age 36.)
In 1966, the Medicare federal insurance program went into effect.
In 1968, the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union and 58 other nations signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
In 1980, “O Canada” was proclaimed the national anthem of Canada.
In 1991, President Bush nominated federal appeals court judge Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court, beginning a confirmation process marked by allegations of sexual harassment.
In 1991, actor Michael Landon died in Malibu, Calif., at age 54.
Ten years ago: President Clinton declared an emergency in drought-stricken parts of the Southwest. Actress Margaux Hemingway was found dead in her Santa Monica, Calif., apartment; she was 41.
Five years ago: Vice President Dick Cheney rested at home, a day after having a new pacemaker implanted in his chest. The National Organization for Women announced in Philadelphia that delegates had chosen Kim A. Gandy to be their new president, succeeding Patricia Ireland.
One year ago: Justice Sandra Day O’Connor unexpectedly announced her retirement from the Supreme Court. A U.S. airstrike in eastern Afghanistan resulted in casualties; Afghan officials said 48 people were killed, including 25 members of an extended family attending a wedding celebration; U.S. officials later confirmed 34 dead. Rhythm-and-blues singer Luther Vandross died in Edison, N.J., at age 54.
Today’s Birthdays: Actress Olivia de Havilland is 90. Actor Farley Granger is 81. Actress-dancer Leslie Caron is 75. Actress Jean Marsh is 72. Movie director Sydney Pollack is 72. Movie producer-director Claude Berri is 72. Actor Jamie Farr is 72. Bluesman James Cotton is 71. Actor David Prowse is 71. Cookiemaker Wally Amos is 70. Singer-musician Delaney Bramlett is 67. Dancer-choreographer Twyla Tharp is 65. Actress Genevieve Bujold is 64. Gospel singer Andrae Crouch is 64. Rock singer-actress Deborah Harry is 61. Movie-TV producer-director Michael Pressman is 56. Rock singer Fred Schneider (B-52s) is 55. Actor Daryl Anderson is 55. Actor Trevor Eve is 55. Actor-comedian Dan Aykroyd is 54. Actor Alan Ruck is 50. Actress Lisa Blount is 49. Olympic gold medal track star Carl Lewis is 45. Country singer Michelle Wright is 45. Actor Andre Braugher is 44. Actress Pamela Anderson is 39. Rock musician Mark Pirro is 36. Rock musician Franny Griffiths (Space) is 36. Actor Henry Simmons is 36. Hip-hop artist Missy Elliott is 35. Actress Liv Tyler is 29. Actress Hilarie Burton is 24. Actress Lynsey Bartilson is 23. Actors Stephen and Andrew Cavarno are 14.
Thought for Today: “Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in people.” — David Sarnoff, American broadcasting pioneer (1891-1971).