Today is Friday, May 19, the 139th day of 2006. There are 226 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
One hundred years ago, on May 19, 1906, the Federated Boys’ Clubs, forerunner of the Boys’ Clubs of America, were organized.
On this date:
In 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of England’s King Henry VIII, was beheaded after being convicted of adultery.
In 1643, delegates from four New England colonies met in Boston to form a confederation.
In 1935, T.E. Lawrence, also known as “Lawrence of Arabia,” died in Dorset, 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 1958, the United States and Canada formally established the North American Air Defense Command.
In 1962, during a Democratic fundraiser 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 midterm pay raises, went into effect.
In 1994, former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in New York at age 64.
Ten years ago: Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew rocketed into orbit and quickly began preparing for the release of an inflatable antenna.
Five years ago: The Arab League called on Arab governments to sever political contacts with Israel until the Jewish state ended military action against Palestinians. Point Given won the Preakness as Derby winner Monarchos finished out of the money.
One year ago: Republicans and Democrats tangled over President Bush’s judicial nominees and the Senate’s filibuster rules, with Democrats accusing Bush of trying to “rewrite the Constitution” and Republicans accusing Democrats of “unprecedented obstruction.” “Revenge of the Sith,” the final chapter of the “Star Wars” epic, opened.
Today’s Birthdays: PBS newscaster Jim Lehrer is 72. TV personality David Hartman is 71. Actor James Fox is 67. Actress Nancy Kwan is 67. Author-director Nora Ephron is 65. Actor Peter Mayhew is 62. Rock singer-composer Pete Townshend (The Who) is 61. Concert pianist David Helfgott is 59. Rock singer-musician Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) is 57. Singer-actress Grace Jones is 54. Rock musician Phil Rudd (AC/DC) is 52. Baseball catcher Rick Cerone is 52. Actor Steven Ford is 50. Rock musician Iain Harvie (Del Amitri) is 44. Actor Jason Gray-Stanford is 36. Rock singer Jenny Berggren (Ace of Base) is 34. Actor Eric Lloyd is 20.
Thought for Today: “If every nation gets the government it deserves, every generation writes the history which corresponds with its view of the world.” — Elizabeth Janeway, American author.
