Today in history - Oct. 5

The Associated Press

Today is Thursday, Oct. 5, the 278th day of 2006. There are 87 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 5, 1947, President Truman delivered the first televised White House address. (Speaking about the world food crisis, Truman called on Americans to refrain from eating meat on Tuesdays and poultry as well as eggs on Thursdays.)

On this date:

In 1830, the 21st president of the United States, Chester Alan Arthur, was born in Fairfield, Vt.

In 1892, the Dalton Gang, notorious for its train robberies, was practically wiped out while attempting to rob a pair of banks in Coffeyville, Kan.

In 1921, the World Series was broadcast on radio for the first time. (By series' end, the New York Giants had beaten the New York Yankees five games to three in the best-of-nine contest.)

In 1931, Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon completed the first nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean, arriving in Washington state some 41 hours after leaving Japan.

In 1937, President Roosevelt called for a "quarantine" of aggressor nations.

In 1953, Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th chief justice of the United States, succeeding Fred M. Vinson.

In 1955, a stage adaptation of "The Diary of Anne Frank" by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett opened at the Cort Theatre in New York.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution granting honorary American citizenship to Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, credited with saving about 100,000 Hungarians, most of them Jews, from the Nazis during World War II.

In 1986, American Eugene Hasenfus was captured by Sandinista soldiers after the weapons plane he was flying in was shot down over southern Nicaragua.

In 1988, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen lambasted Republican Dan Quayle during their vice-presidential debate, telling Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

Ten years ago: Already under fire for his drug policies, President Clinton revealed that a secret FBI memorandum said the government's anti-drug strategy "had never been properly organized"; Clinton argued that the problems predated his administration.

Five years ago: Tabloid photo editor Robert Stevens died from inhaled anthrax, the first of a series of anthrax cases in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Washington. American statesman Mike Mansfield died in Washington at age 98. Barry Bonds set a new mark for homeruns in a single season, hitting numbers 71 and 72, but San Francisco was eliminated from the playoffs with an 11-10 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Moses Malone was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

One year ago: Defying the White House, senators voted 90-9 to approve an amendment that would prohibit the use of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" against anyone in U.S. government custody. Americans Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock and Frenchman Yves Chauvin won the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Daniel Alfredsson scored twice in the final six minutes of regulation and once during the first shootout in NHL history, leading Ottawa to a 3-2 win over Toronto.

Today's Birthdays: "Family Circus" cartoonist Bil Keane is 84. Actress Glynis Johns is 83. Comedian Bill Dana is 82. Actress Diane Cilento is 73. The former president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, is 70. Rhythm-and-blues singer Arlene Smith (The Chantels) is 65. Singer Richard Street is 64. Singer-musician Steve Miller is 63. Rock singer Brian Johnson (AC/DC) is 59. Actor Jeff Conaway is 56. Actress Karen Allen is 55. Writer-producer-director Clive Barker is 54. Rock musician David Bryson (Counting Crows) is 52. Rock singer and famine-relief organizer Bob Geldof is 52. Comedian Bernie Mac is 49. Actor Daniel Baldwin is 46. Rock singer-musician Dave Dederer (Presidents of the United States of America) is 42. Actor Guy Pearce is 39. Singer-actress Heather Headley is 32. Rock musician Brian Mashburn (Save Ferris) is 31. Actress Parminder Nagra is 31. Actor Scott Weinger is 31. Actress Kate Winslet is 31. Rock musician James Valentine (Maroon 5) is 28. Rock musician Paul Thomas (Good Charlotte) is 26. TV personality Nicky Hilton is 23. Rhythm-and-blues singer Brooke Valentine is 21.

Thought for Today: "The usefulness of a meeting is in inverse proportion to the attendance." — Lane Kirkland, American labor leader (1922-1999).

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