Today is Monday, Sept. 5, the 248th day of 2005. There are 117 days left in the year. This is Labor Day.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Sept. 5, 1945, Iva Toguri D’Aquino, a Japanese-American suspected of being wartime broadcaster Tokyo Rose, was arrested in Yokohama. (D’Aquino was later convicted of treason, stripped of her U.S. citizenship and sent to serve 10 years in prison, but ended up serving six; she was pardoned in 1977 by President Ford.)
On this date:
In 1774, the first Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.
In 1793, the Reign of Terror began during the French Revolution as the National Convention instituted harsh measures to repress counterrevolutionary activities.
In 1836, Sam Houston was elected president of the Republic of Texas.
In 1905, 100 years ago, the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the Russo-Japanese War, was signed in New Hampshire.
In 1914, the First Battle of the Marne began during World War I.
In 1939, the United States proclaimed its neutrality in World War II.
In 1972, Arab guerrillas attacked the Israeli delegation at the Munich Olympic games; 11 Israelis, five guerrillas and a police officer were killed in the siege.
In 1975, President Ford escaped an attempt on his life by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, in Sacramento, Calif.
In 1977, the U.S. launched the Voyager I spacecraft two weeks after launching its twin, Voyager II.
In 1997, Mother Teresa died in Calcutta, India, at age 87; conductor Sir Georg Solti died in France at age 84.
Ten years ago: France ended its three-year moratorium on nuclear tests, setting off an underground blast on a South Pacific atoll. O.J. Simpson jurors heard testimony that police detective Mark Fuhrman had uttered a racist slur, and advocated the killing of blacks. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, addressing the UN-sponsored fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, declared it was “time to break the silence” about the abuse of women.
Five years ago: On the eve of congressional hearings into the recall of 6½ million Firestone tires, Ford Motor Co. released new documents to bolster its contention that it had no reason to doubt the safety of the tires being investigated in 88 deaths.
One year ago: Hurricane Frances struck Florida’s central-eastern coast with heavy rain.
Today’s Birthdays: The former president of the Motion Picture Association of America, Jack Valenti, is 84. Former Federal Reserve Board chairman Paul A. Volcker is 78. Comedian-actor Bob Newhart is 76. Actor William Devane is 66. Actor George Lazenby is 66. Singer John Stewart is 66. Actress Raquel Welch is 65. Singer Al Stewart is 60. Actor-director Dennis Dugan is 59. Singer Loudon Wainwright III is 59. Drummer Buddy Miles is 59. “Cathy” cartoonist Cathy Guisewite is 55. Actor Michael Keaton is 54. Country musician Jamie Oldaker (The Tractors) is 54. Rhythm-and-blues singer Terry Ellis is 39. Rock musician Brad Wilk is 37. TV personality Dweezil Zappa is 36. Actress Rose McGowan is 31. Actor Andrew Ducote is 19.
Thought for Today: “History may be divided into three movements: what moves rapidly, what moves slowly and what appears not to move at all.” — Fernand Braudel, French historian (1902-1985).