Sept. 1, 2008 - Today In History

The Associated Press

Mon Sep 1, 12:01 AM ET

Today is Monday, Sept. 1, the 245th day of 2008. There are 121 days left in the year.

This is Labor Day.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Sept. 1, 1939, World War II began as Nazi Germany invaded Poland.

On this date:

In 1807, former Vice President Aaron Burr was found not guilty of treason. (Burr was then tried on a misdemeanor charge, but was again acquitted.)

In 1894, the Great Hinckley Fire destroyed Hinckley, Minn., and five other communities, and killed more than 400 people.

In 1897, the first section of Boston's new subway system was opened.

In 1905, Alberta and Saskatchewan entered Confederation as the eighth and ninth provinces of Canada.

In 1923, the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Yokohama were devastated by an earthquake that claimed some 140,000 lives.

In 1932, New York City Mayor James J. "Gentleman Jimmy" Walker resigned following charges of graft and corruption in his administration.

In 1951, the United States, Australia and New Zealand signed a mutual defense pact, the ANZUS treaty.

In 1961, the Soviet Union ended a moratorium on atomic testing with an aboveground nuclear explosion in central Asia.

In 1972, American Bobby Fischer won the international chess crown in Reykjavik, Iceland, defeating Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.

In 1983, 269 people were killed when a Korean Air Lines Boeing 747 was shot down by a Soviet jet fighter after the airliner entered Soviet airspace.

Ten years ago:

During a Kremlin summit overshadowed by Russian economic and political upheaval, President Clinton offered Boris Yeltsin a prescription of tough reforms to lift the country from its crisis.

Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 56th and 57th home runs of the season to break a 68-year-old National League record held previously by Hack Wilson.

Five years ago:

During a Labor Day trip to Richfield, Ohio, President Bush announced he was creating a high-level government post to nurture the manufacturing sector.

Arab TV broadcast an audiotape purportedly from Saddam Hussein denying any involvement in a bombing in Najaf, Iraq, that killed a beloved Shiite cleric.

The U.S.-picked Iraqi Governing Council named a new Cabinet.

Actor Rand Brooks, who played Scarlett O'Hara's first husband in "Gone With the Wind," died in Santa Ynez, Calif., at age 84.

One year ago:

Idaho Sen. Larry Craig announced his resignation, saying he would leave office on Sept. 30, 2007, in the wake of fallout over his arrest and guilty plea in a Minnesota airport gay sex sting. (However, Craig later reversed his decision, saying he would serve out the rest of his term.)

Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter in his second major league start, just hours after being called up by the Boston Red Sox. Buchholz struck out nine, walked three and hit one batter to give the Red Sox a 10-0 victory over Baltimore.

Today's Birthdays:

Former Defense Secretary Melvin R. Laird is 86. Conductor Seiji Ozawa is 73.

Comedian-actress Lily Tomlin is 69.

Actor Don Stroud is 65.

Singer Archie Bell is 64.

Singer Barry Gibb is 62.

Rock musician Greg Errico is 60.

Talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw is 58.

Singer Gloria Estefan is 51.

Former White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers is 47.

Jazz musician Boney James is 47.

Singer-musician Grant Lee Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo) is 45.

Country singer-songwriter Charlie Robison is 44.

Rap DJ Spigg Nice (Lost Boyz) is 38.

Actor Ricardo Antonio Chavira ("Desperate Housewives") is 37.

Rock singer JD Fortune (INXS) is 35.

Actor Scott Speedman is 33.

Rock musician Joe Trohman is 24.

Thought for Today:

"You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself,

sitting alone in a room." —

Theodor Geisel, aka "Dr. Seuss,"
American author-illustrator
(1904-1991).