Monday, September 19

This Day In History

• 1777   American soldiers won the first Battle of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War.
  
• 1796   President George Washington's farewell address was published. In it, America's first chief executive advised, ''Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.''
  
• 1876   We are reminded that Melville R. Bissell of Grand Rapids, MI patented the carpet sweeper on this day. The name, Bissell, became synonymous with carpet sweepers during the first half of the 20th century -- much like Frigidaire and refrigerator, Jell-O and gelatin dessert.
  
• 1906   Addressing the annual dinner of The Associated Press in New York, Mark Twain said there were ''only two forces that can carry light to all the corners of the globe ... the sun in the heavens and The Associated Press down here.''
  
• 1934   Bruno Hauptmann was arrested in New York and charged with the kidnap-murder of the Lindbergh baby.
  
• 1945   Nazi propagandist William Joyce, known as ''Lord Haw-Haw,'' was sentenced to death by a British court.
  
• 1955   President Juan Peron of Argentina was ousted after a revolt by the military.
  
• 1957   The United States conducted its first underground nuclear test, in the Nevada desert.
  
• 1970   ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' debuted on CBS.
  
• 1985   The Mexico City area was struck by the first of two devastating quakes that claimed some 6,000 lives.
  
• 1994   U.S. troops entered Haiti to enforce the return of exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
  
• 1995   The New York Times and The Washington Post published the Unabomber's manifesto.
  
• 2001   The Pentagon ordered combat aircraft to the Persian Gulf in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; American and United airlines announced 40,000 layoffs.
  
• 2002   President George W. Bush asked Congress for authority to ''use all means,'' including military force if necessary, to disarm and overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein if he did not quickly meet United Nations demands to abandon all weapons of mass destruction.
  
• 2002   Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa was attacked during a game by two fans, a father and son, who came out of the stands at Comiskey Park.
  

Happy Birthday To

• 1905   Leon Jaworski (attorney: Watergate special prosecutor; died Dec 9, 1982)
  
• 1907   Lewis F. Powell Jr. (associate justice of U.S. Supreme Court [1972-1987]; died Aug 25, 1998)
  
• 1928   Adam West (actor: Batman)
  
• 1932   Mike Royko (journalist: Chicago Tribune: syndicated column)
  
• 1933   David McCallum (actor: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
  
• 1941   ‘Mama’ Cass Elliott (Ellen Naomi Cohen) (singer: group: The Mamas & The Papas: California Dreamin’, Monday, Monday, Creeque Alley; solo: Dream a Little Dream of Me, It’s Getting Better, Make Your Own Kind of Music; group: The Mugwumps; died July 29, 1974)
  
• 1949   Twiggy (Leslie Hornby) (fashion model: mini-skirt; actress)
  
• 1950   Joan Lunden (broadcast journalist; TV co-host: Good Morning America)
  
• 1966   Soledad O’Brien (TV host: MSNBC: The Site)