TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, the 263rd day of 2020. There are 103 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY:
On this date in 1881, the 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield, died 2½ months after being shot by Charles Guiteau; Chester Alan Arthur became president.
In 1783, Jacques Etienne Montgolfier launched a duck, a sheep and a rooster aboard a hot-air balloon at Versailles in France.
In 1796, President George Washington’s farewell address was published. In it, America’s first chief executive advised, “Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”
In 1934, Bruno Hauptmann was arrested in New York and charged with the kidnap-murder of 20-month-old Charles A. Lindbergh Jr.
In 1955, President Juan Peron of Argentina was ousted after a revolt by the army and navy.
In 1984, Britain and China completed a draft agreement on transferring Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule by 1997. In 1985, the Mexico City area was struck by a devastating earthquake that killed at least 9,500 people.
In 1986, federal health officials announced that the experimental drug AZT would be made available to thousands of AIDS patients.
In 2001, the Pentagon ordered dozens of advanced aircraft to the Persian Gulf region as the hour of military retaliation for deadly terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 drew closer.
In 2004, Hu Jintao became the undisputed leader of China with the departure of former President Jiang Zemin from his top military post.
In 2008, struggling to stave off financial catastrophe, the Bush administration laid out a radical bailout plan calling for a takeover of a half-trillion dollars or more in worthless mortgages and other bad debt held by tottering institutions. Relieved investors sent stocks soaring on Wall Street and around the globe.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Author Roger Angell is 100. Actor Rosemary Harris is 93. R&B singer Freda Payne is 78. Retired professional golfer Jane Blalock, singer David Bromberg and actor Randolph Mantooth are 75. Rock singer-musician Lol Creme (10cc) and former NFL running back Larry Brown are 73. Actor Jeremy Irons is 72. Actor Twiggy Lawson is 71. TV personality Joan Lunden is 70. Singer-producer Daniel Lanois is 69. Singer-actor Rex Smith is 65. Rock singer Lita Ford and actor Kevin Hooks are 62. Actor Carolyn McCormick is 61. Actor-comedian Cheri Oteri is 58. Country singer Trisha Yearwood is 56. News anchor Soledad O’Brien is 54. Celebrity chef Michael Symon is 51. Actor Victor Williams is 50. Actor Sanaa Lathan is 49. “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon is 46. TV personality Carter Oosterhouse and actor-TV host Alison Sweeney are 44. Rock musician Ryan Dusick is 43. Folkrock singers-musicians Sara and Tegan Quin are 40. Actor Kevin Zegers is 36. Actor Danielle Panabaker is 33. Actor Katrina Bowden is 32.