Aug. 14, 2009 - Today In History

Today is Friday, Aug. 14, the 226th day of 2009. There are 139 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Aug. 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law.

On this date:

In 1848, the Oregon Territory was created.

In 1900, international forces, including U.S. Marines, entered Beijing to put down the Boxer Rebellion, which was aimed at purging China of foreign influence.

In 1908, a race riot erupted in Springfield, Ill. as a white mob began setting black-owned homes and businesses on fire; at least two blacks and five whites were killed in the violence.

In 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally, ending World War II.

In 1947, Pakistan became independent of British rule.

In 1969, British troops went to Northern Ireland to intervene in sectarian violence between Protestants and Roman Catholics.

In 1973, the U.S. bombing of Cambodia came to a halt effective at midnight.

In 1980, workers went on strike at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland, in a job action that resulted in the creation of the Solidarity labor movement.

In 2003, a huge blackout hit the northeastern United States and part of Canada; 50 million people lost power.

Ten years ago:

Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush won a convincing victory in the Iowa straw poll.

Death claimed former AFL-CIO president Lane Kirkland at age 77, and Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Pee Wee Reese at age 81.

Five years ago:

A visibly weak Pope John Paul II joined thousands of other ailing pilgrims at a cliffside shrine in Lourdes, France, telling them he shared in their physical suffering and assuring them the burden was part of God's "wondrous plan."

Nobel Prize-winning poet Czeslaw Milosz died in Krakow, Poland, at age 93.

Fifteen-term congressman William D. Ford died in Ypsilanti Township, Mich. at age 77.

One year ago:

President George W. Bush signed consumer-safety legislation that banned lead from children's toys, imposing the toughest standard in the world.

Today's Birthdays:

Broadway lyricist Lee Adams ("Bye Bye Birdie") is 85.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Russell Baker is 84.

Singer Buddy Greco is 83.

Baseball Hall of Fame coach Earl Weaver is 79.

Former NFL player John Brodie is 74.

Singer Dash Crofts is 71.

Rock singer David Crosby is 68.

Country singer Connie Smith is 68.

Comedian-actor Steve Martin is 64.

Actor Antonio Fargas is 63.

Singer-musician Larry Graham is 63.

Actress Susan Saint James is 63.

Actor David Schramm is 63.

Author Danielle Steel is 62.

Rock singer-musician Terry Adams (NRBQ) is 59.

"Far Side" cartoonist Gary Larson is 59.

Actor Carl Lumbly is 58.

Olympic gold medal swimmer Debbie Meyer is 57.

Film composer James Horner is 56.

Actress Jackee Harry is 53.

Actress Marcia Gay Harden is 50.

Former basketball player Earvin "Magic" Johnson is 50.

Singer Sarah Brightman is 49.

Actress Susan Olsen is 48.

Rock musician Keith Howland (Chicago) is 45.

Actress Halle Berry is 43.

Actress Catherine Bell is 41.

Country musician Cody McCarver (Confederate Railroad) is 41.

Rock musician Kevin Cadogan is 39.

Actor Scott Michael Campbell is 38.

Actress Lalanya Masters is 37.

Actor Christopher Gorham is 35.

Football player Greg Ellis is 34.

Football player Mike Vrabel is 34.

Football player Roy L. Williams is 29.

Actress Mila Kunis is 26.

TV personality Spencer Pratt is 26.

Thought for Today:

"The old forget.
The young don't know."

— Japanese proveb