Today's Highlight in History:

Ten years ago, on May 19, 1994, former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in New York at age 64.

On this date:

In 1643, delegates from four New England colonies met in Boston to form a confederation.

In 1906, the Federated Boys' Clubs, forerunner of the Boys' Clubs of America, were organized.

In 1935, T.E. Lawrence, also known as "Lawrence of Arabia," died in England from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash.

In 1943, in an address to the U.S. Congress, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill pledged his country's full support in the war against Japan.

In 1954, 50 years ago, American composer Charles Ives died in New York.

In 1958, the United States and Canada formally established the North American Air Defense Command.

In 1962, during a Democratic fund-raiser at New York's Madison Square Garden, actress Marilyn Monroe performed a sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" for guest-of-honor President Kennedy.

In 1964, the State Department disclosed that 40 hidden microphones had been found in the U.S. embassy in Moscow.

In 1967, the Soviet Union ratified a treaty with the United States and Britain banning nuclear weapons from outer space.

In 1992, the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits Congress from giving itself mid-term pay raises, went into effect.

Years ago...

Ten years ago: President Clinton held a news conference in which he defended his foreign policy against suggestions he was improvising it from crisis to crisis, saying, "I continue to look for new solutions."

Five years ago: As NATO's Operation Allied Force entered its ninth week, Russia's special envoy to the Balkans called on both NATO and Yugoslavia to suspend hostilities. The Justice Department renewed its campaign to revoke John Demjanjuk's citizenship, alleging he was a Nazi death camp guard known as "Ivan the Terrible." The much-anticipated movie prequel "Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace" opened.

One year ago: WorldCom Incorporated agreed to pay investors $500 million to settle civil fraud charges. The Supreme Court dealt a defeat to the drug industry, ruling 6-3 that a state may try to force companies to lower prices on prescription medications for the poor and uninsured. A Palestinian woman blew herself up during a security check outside a mall, killing three Israelis in the fifth suicide bombing in 48 hours.

Today's Birthdays: PBS newscaster Jim Lehrer is 70. T.V. personality David Hartman is 69. Actor James Fox is 65. Actress Nancy Kwan is 65. Author-director Nora Ephron is 63. Rock singer-composer Pete Townshend is 59. Concert pianist David Helfgott is 57. Rock singer-musician Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) is 55. Singer-actress Grace Jones is 52. Rock musician Phil Rudd (AC/DC) is 50. Baseball catcher Rick Cerone is 50. Actor Steven Ford is 48. Rock musician Iain Harvie (Del Amitri) is 42. Rock singer Jenny Berggren (Ace of Base) is 32. Actor Eric Lloyd is 18.


- posted by Bill @ 3:06 PM