Today is Wednesday, Aug. 10, the 222nd day of 2005. There are 143 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Aug. 10, 1846, Congress chartered the Smithsonian Institution, named after English scientist James Smithson, whose bequest of $500,000 had made it possible.
On this date:
In 1821, Missouri became the 24th state.
In 1874, Herbert Clark Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, was born in West Branch, Iowa.
In 1921, Franklin D. Roosevelt was stricken with polio at his summer home on the Canadian island of Campobello.
In 1944, during World War II, American forces overcame remaining Japanese resistance on Guam.
In 1945, during World War II, Japan announced its willingness to surrender provided that the status of Emperor Hirohito remained unchanged.
In 1949, the National Military Establishment was renamed the Department of Defense.
In 1969, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in their Los Angeles home by members of Charles Manson’s cult, one day after actress Sharon Tate and four other people were slain.
In 1977, postal employee David Berkowitz was arrested in Yonkers, N.Y., accused of being “Son of Sam,” the gunman responsible for six slayings and seven woundings.
In 1988, President Reagan signed a measure providing $20,000 payments to Japanese-Americans who had been interned during World War II.
In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as the second female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ten years ago: Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were charged with 11 counts in the Oklahoma City bombing (McVeigh was convicted of murder and executed; Nichols was convicted of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter). Norma McCorvey, “Jane Roe” of the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, announced she had joined the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue.
Five years ago: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, defying the United States by being the first head of state to visit Iraq since the Gulf War.
One year ago: President Bush chose Porter Goss, a Republican congressman and one-time spy, to lead the CIA. A boat carrying Dominican migrants seeking a better life in Puerto Rico drifted back to almost the same spot where the voyage began nearly two weeks earlier; at least 55 of the 86 people on board died. The 20-year-old woman who accused Kobe Bryant of rape filed a federal lawsuit in Denver against the NBA star. (The lawsuit was later settled out of court; terms were not disclosed.) Barry Bonds became the first player in major league history to hit 30 home runs in 13 consecutive seasons, connecting in San Francisco’s 8-7 loss to Pittsburgh.
Today’s Birthdays: Singer Al Alberts is 83. Actress Rhonda Fleming is 82. Singer Jimmy Dean is 77. Singer Eddie Fisher is 77. Actress Kate O’Mara is 66. Singer Ronnie Spector is 62. Actor James Reynolds (“Days of our Lives”) is 59. Rock singer-musician Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) is 58. Singer Patti Austin is 57. Country musician Gene Johnson (Diamond Rio) is 56. Actor Daniel Hugh Kelly is 53. Actress Rosanna Arquette is 46. Actor Antonio Banderas is 45. Rock musician Jon Farriss (INXS) is 44. Singer Julia Fordham is 43. Singer Neneh Cherry is 41. Singer Aaron Hall is 41. Rhythm-and-blues singer Lorraine Pearson (Five Star) is 38. Rock musician Todd Nichols is 38. Singer-producer Michael Bivins is 37. Actor Justin Theroux is 34. Actress Angie Harmon is 33. Country singer Jennifer Hanson is 32. Actress JoAnna Garcia is 26. Rhythm-and-blues singer Nikki Bratcher (Divine) is 25.
Thought for Today: “There is no adequate defense, except stupidity, against the impact of a new idea.” — Percy Williams Bridgeman, American scientist (1882-1961).