Today is Sunday, Oct. 30, the 303rd day of 2005. There are 62 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Oct. 30, 1938, the radio play “The War of the Worlds,” starring Orson Welles, aired on CBS. (The live drama, which employed fake news reports, panicked some listeners who thought its portrayal of a Martian invasion was true.)
On this date:
In 1735, the second president of the United States, John Adams, was born in Braintree, Mass.
In 1885, poet Ezra Pound was born in Hailey, Idaho.
In 1944, the Martha Graham ballet “Appalachian Spring,” with music by Aaron Copland, premiered at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., with Graham in a leading role.
In 1945, the U.S. government announced the end of shoe rationing.
In 1953, Gen. George C. Marshall was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Albert Schweitzer received the Peace Prize for 1952.
In 1961, the Soviet Union tested a hydrogen bomb with a force estimated at 58 megatons.
In 1961, the Soviet Party Congress unanimously approved a resolution ordering the removal of Josef Stalin’s body from Lenin’s tomb.
In 1975, the New York Daily News ran the headline “Ford to City: Drop Dead” a day after President Ford said he would veto any proposed federal bailout of New York City.
In 1979, President Carter announced his choice of federal appeals judge Shirley Hufstedler to head the newly created Department of Education.
In 1985, the launch of the space shuttle Challenger was witnessed by schoolteacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe, who died when the spacecraft exploded after liftoff the following January.
Ten years ago: By a vote of 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent, Federalists prevailed over separatists in Quebec in a secession referendum.
Five years ago: Comedian, TV host, author and composer Steve Allen died in Encino, Calif., at age 78.
One year ago: The decapitated body of a Japanese backpacker (Shosei Koda) was found wrapped in an American flag in northwestern Baghdad; the militant group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi later claimed responsibility. Grateful fans embraced the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, hailing the team as heroes during a jubilant parade. Actress-dancer Peggy Ryan died in Las Vegas at age 80.
Today’s Birthdays: Ventriloquist Rickie Layne is 81. Actor Dick Gautier is 68. Movie director Claude Lelouch is 68. Rock singer Grace Slick is 66. Songwriter Eddie Holland is 66. Actor Ed Lauter is 65. Rhythm-and-blues singer Otis Williams (The Temptations) is 64. Actor Henry Winkler is 60. Rock musician Chris Slade (Asia) is 59. Musician Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles) is 58. Actor Harry Hamlin is 54. Actor Charles Martin Smith is 52. Country singer T. Graham Brown is 51. Actor Kevin Pollak is 48. Rock singer-musician Gavin Rossdale (Bush) is 38. Actress Nia Long is 35. Country singer Kassidy Osborn (SHeDAISY) is 29. Actor Gael Garcia Bernal is 27. Actor Tequan Richmond (“Everybody Hates Chris”) is 13.
Thought for Today: “It almost seems that nobody can hate America as much as native Americans. America needs new immigrants to love and cherish it.” — Eric Hoffer, American philosopher (1902-1983).