Today is Sunday, June 26, the 177th day of 2005. There are 188 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On June 26, 1945, the charter of the United Nations was signed by 50 countries in San Francisco.
On this date:
In 1870, the first section of Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Boardwalk was opened to the public.
In 1900, a commission that included Dr. Walter Reed began the fight against the deadly disease yellow fever.
In 1917, the first troops of the American Expeditionary Force arrived in France during World War I.
In 1925, Charlie Chaplin’s classic comedy “The Gold Rush” premiered at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
In 1944, the Republican national convention opened in Chicago with a keynote speech by California Gov. Earl Warren.
In 1959, President Eisenhower joined Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in ceremonies officially opening the St. Lawrence Seaway.
In 1963, President Kennedy visited West Berlin, where he made his famous declaration: “Ich bin ein Berliner” (I am a Berliner).
In 1968, Chief U.S. Justice Earl Warren announced his intention to resign.
In 1977, 42 people were killed when a fire sent toxic smoke pouring through the Maury County Jail in Columbia, Tenn.
In 2003, Strom Thurmond, the longest-serving senator in U.S. history, died in Edgefield, S.C., at age 100.
Ten years ago: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak escaped an attempt on his life in Ethiopia. The Supreme Court ruled, 6-to-3, that public schools can require drug tests for its athletes. President Clinton observed the 50th anniversary of the United Nations at the site of its birth in San Francisco.
Five years ago: Rival scientific teams completed the first rough map of the human genetic code after a ten-year race. The Supreme Court gave new power to its landmark Miranda decision of 1966, ruling police still must warn the people they arrest of their “right to remain silent” when questioned.
One year ago: President Bush won support from the 25-nation European Union for an initial agreement to help train Iraq’s armed forces. A memorial service was held in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., for Paul M. Johnson Jr., an engineer slain by kidnappers in Saudi Arabia.
Today’s Birthdays: Actress Eleanor Parker is 83. Jazz musician-film composer Dave Grusin is 71. Actor Josef Sommer is 71. Singer Billy Davis Jr. (The Fifth Dimension) is 65. Rock singer Georgie Fame is 62. Actor Clive Francis is 59. Actor Robert Davi is 51. Singer-musician Mick Jones is 50. Actor Gedde Watanabe is 50. Rock singer Chris Isaak is 49. Rock singer Patty Smyth is 48. Singer Terri Nunn (Berlin) is 44. Actor Mark McKinney is 43. Rock singer Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays) is 42. Rock musician Colin Greenwood (Radiohead) is 36. Actor Sean Hayes is 35. Actor Matt Letscher is 35. Actor Chris O’Donnell is 35. Country singer Gretchen Wilson is 31. Actor-musician Jason Schwartzman is 25. Actress Kaitlin Cullum is 19.
Thought for Today: “When I was a young man I vowed never to marry until I found the ideal woman. Well, I found her — but, alas, she was waiting for the perfect man.” — Robert Schuman, French statesman (1886-1963).