Associated Press
On Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four passenger jetliners in the United States. They flew two into the World Trade Center in New York City, causing the 110-story twin towers to collapse. Another plowed into the Pentagon and a fourth crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pa. In all, nearly 3,000 people were killed.
1789- Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first secretary of the treasury.
1814- An American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain during the War of 1812.
1850- Jenny Lind, the “Swedish Nightingale,” gave her first concert in the United States, at Castle Garden in New York.
1885- Author D.H. Lawrence was born in Eastwood, England.
1941- Charles A. Lindbergh sparked charges of anti-Semitism with a speech in which he blamed “the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt administration” for trying to draw the United States into World War II.
1962- The Beatles recorded their first single, “Love Me Do” and “P.S. I Love You,” at EMI studios in London.
1971- Former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev died at age 77.
1973- Chilean President Salvador Allende died in a violent military coup.
1985- Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds recorded his 4,192nd hit, breaking Ty Cobb’s career record.
1997- Scots voted to create their own Parliament after 290 years of union with England.
1998- Congress released Kenneth Starr’s report, which offered graphic details of President Bill Clinton’s alleged sexual misconduct and leveled accusations of perjury and obstruction of justice.
2002- Football Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas died at age 69.
2007- China signed an agreement to prohibit the use of lead paint on toys exported to the United States.
2009- Michael Jordan was enshrined in the basketball Hall of Fame.
Today’s Birthdays:
Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed turns 37 years old today.
Earl Holliman, Actor, 87
Bob Packwood, Former U.S. senator, R-Ore., 83
Robert Crippen, Astronaut, 78
Brian De Palma, Director, 75
Theodore B. Olson, Former U.S. solicitor general, 75
Mickey Hart, Rock musician (Grateful Dead), 72
Amy Madigan, Actress, 65
Tommy Shaw, Rock singer, musician (Styx), 62
Lesley Visser, Sports journalist, 62
Scott Patterson, Actor (“Gilmore Girls”), 57
Virginia Madsen, Actress, 54
Kristy McNichol, Actress (“Empty Nest,” “Family”), 53
Moby, Rock musician, 50
Harry Connick Jr., Singer-actor, 48
Taraji P. Henson, Actress, 45
Ludacris, Rapper, 38
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury turns 32 years old today.