May 23, 2009 - Today In History

Today is Wednesday, May 23, the 143rd day of 2007. There are 222 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On May 23, 1934, bank robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were shot to death in a police ambush in Bienville Parish, La.

On this date:

In 1533, the marriage of England’s King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon was declared null and void.

In 1701, Captain William Kidd was hanged in London after he was convicted of piracy and murder.

In 1788, South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the United States Constitution.

In 1906, Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen died in Christiania, Norway, at age 78.

In 1937, industrialist John D. Rockefeller died in Ormond Beach, Fla.

In 1944, during World War II, Allied forces bogged down in Anzio began a major breakout offensive.

In 1945, Nazi official Heinrich Himmler committed suicide while imprisoned in Luneburg, Germany.

In 1960, Israel announced it had captured former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann in Argentina. (Eichmann was tried in Israel, found guilty of crimes against humanity, and hanged in 1962.)

In 1977, the Supreme Court refused to hear the appeals of former Nixon White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman and former Attorney General John N. Mitchell in connection with their Watergate convictions.

In 1994, funeral services were held at Arlington National Cemetery for former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Ten years ago:

The defense at the Oklahoma City bombing trial suffered an embarrassing setback when one of its own witnesses provided testimony potentially damaging to defendant Timothy McVeigh.

The Senate decisively approved a carefully constructed deal to balance the budget and cut taxes.

Iranians elected a moderate president, Mohammad Khatami, over hard-liners in the ruling Muslim clergy.

Five years ago:

During visits to Germany and Russia on the same day, President Bush told wary European leaders “we’ve
got to use all means at our disposal to deal with Saddam Hussein,” and he denounced anyone who would appease terrorists or ignore threats to Europe.

Golfing legend Sam Snead died in Hot Springs, Va., at age 89.

One year ago:

In a recording posted on the Internet, a voice purported to be that of Osama bin Laden said neither Zacarias Moussaoui — the only person convicted in the U.S. for the Sept. 11 attacks — nor anyone held at Guantanamo had anything to do with the al-Qaida operation.

ABC appointed Charles Gibson to replace Elizabeth Vargas as anchor of its “World News Tonight” evening newscast.

Former senator, vice-presidential candidate and Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen died in Houston at age 85.

Today’s Birthdays:

Actress Betty Garrett is 88.

Pianist Alicia de Larrocha is 84.

Bluegrass singer Mac Wiseman is 82.

Actor Nigel Davenport is 79.

Actress Barbara Barrie is 76.

Actress Joan Collins is 74.

Actor Charles Kimbrough is 71.

Rhythm-and-blues singer General Johnson (Chairmen of the Board) is 64.

Actress Lauren Chapin is 62.

Country singer Misty Morgan is 62.

Country singer Judy Rodman is 56.

Singer Luka Bloom is 52.

Actor-comedian Drew Carey is 49.

Country singer Shelly West is 49.

Actor Linden Ashby is 47.

Actress-model Karen Duffy is 46.

Rock musician Phil Selway (Radiohead) is 40.

Actress Laurel Holloman is 39.

Rock musician Matt Flynn (Maroon 5) is 37.

Singer Lorenzo is 35.

Country singer Brian McComas is 35.

Singer Maxwell is 34.

Singer Jewel is 33.

Actor Adam Wylie is 23.

Thought for Today:

“You can tell the ideals of a nation by its advertisements.”

— Norman Douglas,
British author
(1868-1952).

© 2009 The Associated Press.