| On this date in: |
| 1777 |
British forces under Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered to American troops in Saratoga, N.Y., in a turning point of the Revolutionary War. |
| 1919 |
The Radio Corporation of America was created. |
| 1931 |
Mobster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison. |
| 1945 |
Col. Juan Peron staged a coup, becoming absolute ruler of Argentina. |
| 1957 |
French author Albert Camus was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. |
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| AP Photo |
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| 1973 |
Arab oil-producing nations announced they would cut back oil exports to Western nations and Japan; the result was a total embargo that lasted until March 1974. |
| 1979 |
Mother Teresa of India was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on behalf of the destitute in Calcutta. |
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| AP Photo |
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| 1987 |
First lady Nancy Reagan underwent a modified radical mastectomy. |
| 2007 |
President George W. Bush, raising Beijing’s ire, presented the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal and urged Chinese leaders to welcome the monk to Beijing. |
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| Today’s Birthdays: |
| Golfer Ernie Els turns 47 years old today. |
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| AP Photo/Eric Risberg |
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| Name |
Profession |
Age |
| Jimmy Breslin |
Newspaper columnist |
86 |
| Jim Seals |
Singer (Seals & Crofts) |
74 |
| Michael McKean |
Actor (“This is Spinal Tap,” “Laverne and Shirley”) |
69 |
| Margot Kidder |
Actress |
68 |
| George Wendt |
Actor (“Cheers”) |
68 |
| Alan Jackson |
Country singer |
58 |
| Rob Marshall |
Director |
56 |
| Mike Judge |
Animator, director (“Beavis and Butthead”) |
54 |
| Norm Macdonald |
Actor, comedian (“Saturday Night Live”) |
53 |
| Ziggy Marley |
Reggae musician |
48 |
| Eminem |
Rapper |
44 |
| Singer Wyclef Jean turns 44 years old today. |
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| AP Photo/Chris Pizzello |
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