Today in history - Oct. 23

The Associated Press

Today is Monday, Oct. 23, the 296th day of 2006. There are 69 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

Fifty years ago, on Oct. 23, 1956, a spontaneous, student-sparked revolt against Hungary's Communist rule began in Budapest; as the revolution spread, Soviet forces started entering the country, and the uprising was put down within weeks.

On this date:

In 1864, forces led by Union Gen. Samuel R. Curtis repelled Confederate Gen. Sterling Price's army in the Civil War Battle of Westport, Mo.

In 1915, 25,000 women marched in New York City, demanding the right to vote.

In 1925, talk show host Johnny Carson was born in Corning, Iowa.

In 1942, during World War II, Britain launched a major offensive against Axis forces at El Alamein in Egypt.

In 1944, the World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf began.

In 1946, the United Nations General Assembly convened in New York for the first time, at an auditorium in Flushing Meadow in Queens.

In 1973, President Nixon agreed to turn over White House tape recordings requested by the Watergate special prosecutor to Judge John J. Sirica.

In 1980, the resignation of Soviet Premier Alexei N. Kosygin was announced.

In 1983, 241 U.S. Marines and sailors in Lebanon were killed in a suicide truck-bombing at Beirut International Airport; a near-simultaneous attack on French forces killed 58 paratroopers.

In 1987, the U.S. Senate rejected 58-42 the Supreme Court nomination of Robert H. Bork.

Ten years ago: Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole tried to persuade Ross Perot to quit the race and endorse the GOP ticket, but Perot refused. The civil trial of O.J. Simpson opened in Santa Monica, Calif., (Simpson was later found liable in the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.) The New York Yankees tied the World Series at two games apiece, defeating the Atlanta Braves 8-6.

Five years ago: The nation's anthrax scare hit the White House with the discovery of a small concentration of spores at an offsite mail processing center. President Bush announced he had authorized money for improved post office security following the deaths of two postal workers from inhalation anthrax. The Irish Republican Army announced that it had begun to disarm for the first time. A relieved NASA team celebrated as the 2001 Mars Odyssey slipped into orbit around the Red Planet, two years after back-to-back failures by Mars missions.

One year ago: Warsaw's conservative Mayor Lech Kaczynski won Poland's presidential runoff vote. The Chicago White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the World Series as they beat the Houston Astros 7-6.

Today's Birthdays: Movie director Philip Kaufman is 70. Soccer great Pele is 66. Author Michael Crichton is 64. Rhythm-and-blues singer Barbara Ann Hawkins (The Dixie Cups) is 63. Actor Michael Rupert is 55. Movie director Ang Lee is 52. Jazz singer Dianne Reeves is 50. Country singer Dwight Yoakam is 50. Movie director Sam Raimi is 47. Parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic is 47. Rock musician Robert Trujillo (Metallica) is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer David Thomas (Take 6) is 40. Rock musician Brian Nevin (Big Head Todd and the Monsters) is 40. Country singer-musician Junior Bryant is 38. Country singer Jimmy Wayne is 34. Actor Ryan Reynolds is 30. Actress Masiela Lusha is 21.

Thought for Today: "I have three phobias which, could I mute them, would make my life as slick as a sonnet, but as dull as ditch water: I hate to go to bed, I hate to get up, and I hate to be alone." — Tallulah Bankhead, American actress (1903-1968).

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