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Today in history: June 3

Celebrity birthdays, highlights in history, plus more facts about this day
/ Source: The Associated Press

Today is Saturday, June 3, the 154th day of 2006. There are 211 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:
On June 3, 1965, astronaut Edward White became the first American to “walk” in space, during the flight of Gemini 4.

On this date:
In 1621, the Dutch West India Company received a charter for New Netherlands — now known as New York.

In 1808, Jefferson Davis — the first and only president of the Confederacy — was born in Christian County, Ky.

In 1906, dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker was born in St. Louis.

In 1935, the French liner Normandie set a record on its maiden voyage, arriving in New York after crossing the Atlantic in just four days, 11 hours and 42 minutes.

In 1937, the Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated the British throne, married Wallis Warfield Simpson in Monts, France.

In 1948, the 200-inch reflecting telescope at the Palomar Mountain Observatory in California was dedicated.

In 1963, Pope John XXIII died at age 81. He was succeeded by Pope Paul VI.

In 1981, Pope John Paul II left a Rome hospital and returned to the Vatican three weeks after the attempt on his life.

In 1989, Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, died.

In 1989, Chinese army troops began their sweep of Beijing to crush student-led pro-democracy demonstrations.

Ten years ago: The FBI pulled the plug on electricity at the Freemen ranch in Montana in an attempt to persuade the occupants to negotiate an end to the 71-day-old standoff. During joint war games in the Pacific, a Japanese destroyer mistakenly shot down an American attack plane; two U.S. Navy aviators ejected safely.

Five years ago: Alejandro Toledo defeated ex-president Alan Garcia in Peru’s presidential election. Actor Anthony Quinn died in Boston at age 86. Mel Brooks’ musical comedy “The Producers” won a record 12 Tony Awards. Golfer Karrie Webb won the U.S. Women’s Open in a runaway for the second year in a row.

One year ago: U.S. military officials said no guard at the Guantanamo Bay prison for terror suspects had flushed a detainee’s Quran down the toilet, but disclosed there were instances in which Qurans were abused by guards, intentionally or accidentally. The child molestation case against Michael Jackson went to the jury after the defense concluded its closing argument (Jackson was acquitted).

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Tony Curtis is 81. Musician Boots Randolph is 79. TV producer Chuck Barris is 77. Actress Irma P. Hall is 71. Author Larry McMurtry is 70. Rock singer Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) is 67. Singer Eddie Holman is 60. Musician Too Slim (Riders in the Sky) is 58. Singer Suzi Quatro is 56. Singer Deneice Williams is 55. Rock musician Billy Powell (Lynyrd Skynyrd) is 54. Singer Dan Hill is 52. Actor Scott Valentine is 48. CNN host Anderson Cooper is 39. Country singer Jamie O’Neal is 38. Singers Gabriel and Ariel Hernandez (No Mercy) are 35. Actress Lalaine (“Lizzie McGuire”) is 19.

Thought for Today: “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can make you awfully comfortable while you’re being miserable.” — Clare Boothe Luce, American author, politician and diplomat (1903-1987).