AP News, November 4th, 2007
Today is Sunday, Nov. 4, the 308th day of 2007. There are 57 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On Nov. 4, 1979, the Iran hostage crisis began as militants stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran, seizing its occupants. For some of the hostages, it was the start of 444 days of captivity.
On this date:
In 1884, Democrat Grover Cleveland was elected to his first term as president, defeating Republican James G. Blaine.
In 1922, the entrance to King Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in Egypt.
In 1924, Nellie T. Ross of Wyoming was elected the nation's first female governor to serve out the remaining term of her late husband, William B. Ross.
In 1942, during World War II, Axis forces retreated from El Alamein in North Africa in a major victory for British forces commanded by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.
In 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson.
In 1956, Soviet troops moved in to crush the Hungarian Revolution.
In 1980, Ronald Reagan won the White House as he defeated President Jimmy Carter by a strong margin.
In 1987, Elizabeth (Lisa) Steinberg, 6, was pronounced dead at a New York City hospital in a child-abuse case that sparked national outrage; her illegal adoptive father, Joel Steinberg, served 17 years in prison for manslaughter.
In 1991, Ronald Reagan opened his presidential library in Simi Valley, Calif., with a dedication attended by President George Bush and former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon — the first-ever gathering of five past and present U.S. chief executives.
In 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli minutes after attending a festive peace rally.
Ten years ago: In off-year elections, Republicans won high-profile races as New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman won a cliffhanger re-election while New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani won a second term and James Gilmore won the race for Virginia governor. Iraq agreed to postpone the expulsion of American weapons inspectors until after U.N. envoys had finished their mission.
Five years ago: President Bush barnstormed through four battleground states, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, in a final appeal for Republicans in Congress; Democrats worked for a strong voter turnout to tilt key races their way. A party with Islamic roots won a landslide victory in Turkish elections.
One year ago: Katharine Jefferts Schori took office as the first female leader of the Episcopal Church and the first woman priest to head an Anglican province during a ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral. A blackout hit parts of Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, co-author of "Cheaper by the Dozen," died in Fresno, Calif., at age 98.
Today's Birthdays: Former CBS news anchorman Walter Cronkite is 91. Actress Doris Roberts is 77. Actress Loretta Swit is 70. Rhythm-and-blues singer Harry Elston (Friends of Distinction) is 69. Blues singer Delbert McClinton is 67. First lady Laura Bush is 61. Actress Markie Post is 57. Rock singer-musician Chris Difford (Squeeze) is 53. Country singer Kim Forester (The Forester Sisters) is 47. Actress-comedian Kathy Griffin is 47. Actor Ralph Macchio is 46. "Survivor" host Jeff Probst is 46. Actor Matthew McConaughey is 38. Rapper-producer Sean "Puffy" Combs is 38. Rhythm-and-blues singer Shawn Rivera (Az Yet) is 36. Actress Heather Tom is 32. Rhythm-and-blues/gospel singer George Huff is 27.
Thought for Today: "A boy becomes an adult three years before his parents think he does, and about two years after he thinks he does." — Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, Selective Service director (1893-1977).
