Today in History
Published 10:54 pm Saturday, May 15, 2010
Today is Sunday, May 16, the 136th day of 2010. There are 229 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
On May 16, 1960, a Big Four summit conference in Paris collapsed on its opening day as Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev demanded, but did not receive, an apology from President Dwight D. Eisenhower regarding the U-2 incident.
The first working laser was demonstrated at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, Calif. by physicist Theodore Maiman.
ON THIS DATE
In 1770, Marie Antoinette, age 14, married the future King Louis XVI of France, who was 15.
In 1866, Congress authorized minting of the first 5-cent piece, also known as the “Shield nickel.”
In 1868, the Senate failed by one vote to convict President Andrew Johnson as it took its first ballot on the 11 articles of impeachment against him.
In 1910, the U.S Bureau of Mines was established. (It ceased operations in 1996, its functions having been transferred to other agencies.)
In 1920, Joan of Arc was canonized by Pope Benedict XV.
In 1929, the first Academy Awards were presented. The movie “Wings” won best production, while Emil Jannings and Janet Gaynor were named best actor and best actress.
In 1948, CBS News correspondent George Polk, who had been covering the Greek civil war between Communist and nationalist forces, was found slain in Solonica Harbor.
In 1975, Japanese climber Junko Tabei became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
In 1990, entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. died in Los Angeles at age 64 and Muppets creator Jim Henson died in New York at age 53.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
Actor Pierce Brosnan is 57. Actress Debra Winger is 55. Olympic gold medal gymnast Olga Korbut is 55.
Actress Mare Winningham is 51. Rock musician Krist Novoselic is 45. Singer Janet Jackson is 44. Political correspondent Tucker Carlson is 41. Tennis player Gabriela Sabatini is 40. Actress Tori Spelling is 37. Actress Melanie Lynskey is 33. Actress Megan Fox is 24.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
“I want, of course, peace, grace, and beauty. How do you do that? You work for it.” — Studs Terkel, American writer (1912-2008).
