Today in history - Oct. 26


The Associated Press

Today is Thursday, Oct. 26, the 299th day of 2006. There are 66 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Oct. 26, 1881, the "Gunfight at the OK Corral" took place in Tombstone, Ariz., as Wyatt Earp, his two brothers and "Doc" Holliday confronted Ike Clanton's gang. Three members of Clanton's gang were killed; Earp's brothers were wounded.

On this date:

In 1774, the First Continental Congress adjourned in Philadelphia.

In 1825, the Erie Canal opened in upstate New York, connecting Lake Erie and the Hudson River.

In 1942, the U.S. ship Hornet was sunk in the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands during World War II.

In 1957, the Soviet Union announced that defense minister Marshal Georgi Zhukov had been relieved of his duties.

In 1958, Pan American Airways flew its first Boeing 707 jetliner from New York to Paris in eight hours and 41 minutes.

In 1967, the Shah of Iran crowned himself and his queen after 26 years on the Peacock Throne.

In 1972, national security adviser Henry Kissinger declared, "Peace is at hand" in Vietnam.

In 1975, Anwar Sadat became the first Egyptian president to pay an official visit to the United States.

In 1977, the experimental space shuttle Enterprise glided to a bumpy but successful landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

In 1994, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel and Prime Minister Abdel Salam Majali of Jordan signed a peace treaty during an extravagant ceremony at the Israeli-Jordanian border attended by President Clinton.

Ten years ago: Federal prosecutors cleared former security guard Richard Jewell as a suspect in the Olympic park bombing. The New York Yankees won their first World Series since 1978, defeating the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in Game 7.

Five years ago: President Bush signed the USA Patriot Act, giving authorities unprecedented ability to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of possible terrorists. The U.S. Supreme Court building was shut down for anthrax testing. The Taliban captured and executed Afghan opposition figure Abdul Haq. American Red Cross President Bernadine Healy announced her resignation.

One year ago: Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared that Israel was a "disgraceful blot" that should be "wiped off the map." A 20-year-old Palestinian blew himself up in an open-air market in Hadera, killing five Israelis. The Chicago White Sox defeated the Houston Astros 1-0 in Game 4 to win their first World Series since 1917.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Shelley Morrison ("Will and Grace") is 70. Actor Bob Hoskins is 64. Author Pat Conroy is 61. TV host Pat Sajak is 60. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is 59. Singer Maggie Roche (The Roches) is 55. Musician Bootsy Collins is 55. Actor James Pickens Jr. ("Grey's Anatomy") is 54. Rock musician Keith Strickland (The B-52's) is 53. Actor D.W. Moffett is 52. Actress Rita Wilson is 50. Actor Dylan McDermott is 45. Actor Cary Elwes is 44. Singer Natalie Merchant is 43. Country singer Keith Urban is 39. Actor Tom Cavanagh is 38. Actor Anthony Rapp is 35. Actor Jon Heder is 29. Singer Mark Barry (BBMak) is 28.

Thought for Today: "You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end each of us must work for his own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity." — Marie Curie, Polish-French scientist (1867-1934).

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