Today In History

Today is Monday, July 9, the 190th day of 2007. There are 175 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On July 9, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read aloud to Gen. George Washington's troops in New York.

On this date:

In 1540, England's King Henry VIII had his six-month-old marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, annulled.

In 1816, Argentina declared independence from Spain.

In 1850, the 12th president of the United States, Zachary Taylor, died after serving only 16 months of his term.

In 1896, William Jennings Bryan delivered his famous "cross of gold" speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

In 1918, 101 people were killed in a train collision in Nashville, Tenn.

In 1944, during World War II, American forces secured Saipan as the last Japanese defenses fell.

In 1947, the engagement of Britain's Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced.

In 1951, President Harry Truman asked Congress to formally end the state of war between the U.S. and Germany.

In 1982, a Pan Am Boeing 727 crashed in Kenner, La., killing all 145 people aboard and eight people on the ground.

In 1986, the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography released the final draft of its report, which linked hard-core porn to sex crimes.

Ten years ago: Leaders of 16 NATO nations met with 25 other countries in an unprecedented security summit in Madrid, Spain. Boxer Mike Tyson was banned from the ring and fined $3 million for biting opponent Evander Holyfield's ear.

Five years ago: The Senate voted to entomb thousands of tons of radioactive waste inside Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert, rejecting the state's fervent protests. Speaking in New York, President Bush called for doubled prison terms and aggressive policing to combat fraud and corruption in corporate America. African leaders launched the African Union, an ambitious new body intended to pull the beleaguered continent out of poverty and conflict. To the boos of disappointed fans, the All-Star game in Milwaukee finished in a 7-7 tie after 11 innings when both teams ran out of pitchers. Academy Award-winning actor Rod Steiger died in Los Angeles at age 77.

One year ago: A Russian Airbus A310 crashed in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, killing at least 125 of 203 people on board. In a penalty-plagued final, Italy won the World Cup soccer title with a penalty shootout over France. Roger Federer ended a five-match losing streak to Rafael Nadal, winning 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3 to earn his fourth straight Wimbledon title.


Thought for Today: "A good storyteller is a person who has a good memory and hopes other people haven't." — Irvin Cobb, American humorist (1876-1944).