TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is Sunday, Sept. 27, the 271st day of 2020.

Today’s highlight

On Sept. 27, 1964, the government publicly released the report of the Warren Commission, which concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone in assassinating President John F. Kennedy.

On this date

In 1779, John Adams was named by Congress to negotiate the Revolutionary War’s peace terms with Britain.

In 1825, the first locomotive to haul a passenger train was operated by George Stephenson in England.

In 1917, French sculptor and painter Edgar Degas died in Paris at age 83.

In 1939, Warsaw, Poland, surrendered after weeks of resistance to invading forces from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

In 1994, more than 350 Republican congressional candidates gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to sign the “Contract with America,” a 10-point platform they pledged to enact if voters sent a GOP majority to the House.

In 2004, NBC announced that “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno would be succeeded by “Late Night” host Conan O’brien in 2009 (however, O’brien’s stint on “The Tonight Show” lasted just over seven months).

Today’s birthdays

Actor Kathleen Nolan is 87. Actor Claude Jarman Jr. is 86. Singer-musician Randy Bachman (Bachman-turner Overdrive) is 77. Rock singer Meat Loaf is 73. Actor Liz Torres is 73. Actor A Martinez is 72. Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt is 71. Singer Shaun Cassidy is 62. Comedian Marc Maron is 57. Actor Gwyneth Paltrow is 48. Rapper Lil’ Wayne is 38. Singer Avril Lavigne is 36.