Today in History

Today is Sunday, May 25th, the 146th day of 2008. There are 220 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History: On May 25th, 1968, the Gateway Arch, part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, was dedicated by Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Interior Secretary Stewart Udall.

On this date: In 1787, the Constitutional Convention began meeting in Philadelphia after enough delegates had shown up for a quorum.

In 1810, Argentina began its revolt against Spanish rule.

In 1895, playwright Oscar Wilde was convicted of a morals charge in London; he was sentenced to two years in prison.

In 1908, American poet Theodore Roethke was born in Saginaw, Michigan.

In 1935, Babe Ruth hit the 714th and final home run of his career, for the Boston Braves, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 1946, Transjordan (now Jordan) became a kingdom as it proclaimed its new monarch, Abdullah I.

In 1961, President Kennedy, addressing Congress, called on the nation to work toward putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

In 1976, Congressman Wayne L. Hays (Democrat, Ohio) admitted to a "personal relationship" with Elizabeth Ray, a staff member who claimed she'd received her secretarial job in order to be Hays' mistress.

In 1979, 273 people died when an American Airlines DC-10 crashed on takeoff from Chicago's O'Hare airport.

In 1986, an estimated 7 million Americans participated in "Hands Across America," forming a line across the country to raise money for the nation's hungry and homeless.

Ten years ago: Indonesia's new president, B.J. Habibie, promised to hold elections. Leaders in the former Soviet republic of Georgia and its breakaway province of Abkhazia agreed to a cease-fire after a week of fighting.

Five years ago: In a historic vote cast under intense U.S.

pressure, Israel's government conditionally approved by a narrow margin an internationally backed "road map" to peace. Nestor Kirchner was sworn in as Argentina's first popularly elected president since the country's financial meltdown in December 2001.

Director Gus Van Sant's "Elephant," a disturbing Film loosely based on the Columbine school shooting, won top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Gil de Ferran won the Indianapolis 500.

One year ago: President Bush signed a bill to pay for military operations in Iraq that did not contain a timetable for troop withdrawals. Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (mook-TAH'-duh al SAH'-dur) resurfaced after nearly four months in hiding and demanded U.S. troops leave Iraq. Atlanta attorney Andrew Speaker, infected with drug-resistant tuberculosis, was quarantined by the federal government after returning from his European wedding and honeymoon. Tony Award-winning actor Charles Nelson Reilly died in Los Angeles at age 76.

Today's Birthdays: Lyricist Hal David is 87. Former White House news secretary Ron Nessen is 74. Country singer-songwriter Tom T.

Hall is 72. Actor Sir Ian McKellen is 69. Actress Dixie Carter is 69. Country singer Jessi Colter is 65. Actress-singer Leslie Uggams is 65. Movie director and Muppeteer Frank Oz is 64. Actress Karen Valentine is 61. Rock singer Klaus Meine (The Scorpions) is 60.

Actress Patti D'Arbanville is 57. Actress Connie Sellecca is 53.

Rock singer-musician Paul Weller is 50. Actor-comedian Mike Myers is 45. Actor Matt Borlenghi is 41. Actor Joseph Reitman is 40. Rock musician Glen Drover is 39. Actress Anne Heche (haych) is 39.

Actresses Sidney and Lindsay Greenbush ("Little House on the Prairie") are 38. Actor-comedian Jamie Kennedy is 38. Actor Justin Henry is 37. Rapper Daz Dillinger is 35. Actress Molly Sims is 35.

Singer Lauryn Hill is 33. Actor Cillian Murphy is 32. Actor Ethan Suplee (soo-PLEE') is 32. Rock musician Todd Whitener (Tantric) is 30. Actor Corbin Allred is 29. Actress-singer Lauren Frost is 23.

Thought for Today: "Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else." Sir James Barrie, Scottish dramatist (1860-1937).

(Above Advance for Use Sunday, May 25th)


Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 05-19-08 0915CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list