TODAY HISTORY IN
Today is Tuesday, Oct. 31, the 304th day of 2017. There are 61 days left in the year. This is Halloween. Today’s Highlight in History:
On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther sent his 95 Theses denouncing what he saw as the abuses of the Catholic Church, especially the sale of indulgences, to the Archbishop of Mainz, Germany (by some accounts, On this date:
n In 1795, English poet John Keats was born in London. n In 1956, Navy Rear Adm. George J. Dufek and six others became the first air travelers to set foot at the South Pole. n In 1967, Nguyen Van Thieu took the oath of office as the first president of South Vietnam’s second republic. n In 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikh security guards. Ten years ago: Gold traded above $800 an ounce for the first time since 1980. Five years ago: President Barack Obama joined New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for a tour of damage along the Jersey coast from Superstorm Sandy. One year ago: Pope Francis marked the upcoming 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by traveling to secular
Sweden, where he encouraged Catholics and Lutherans to forgive the “errors” of the past and forge greater unity, including sharing in the Eucharist.
Today’s Birthdays: Actress Lee Grant is 92. Former CBS anchorman Dan Rather is 86. Folk singer Tom Paxton is 80. Actress Sally Kirkland is 76. Actor David Ogden Stiers is 75. Actor Brian Doyle-Murray is 72. Actor Stephen Rea is 71. Olympic gold medal long-distance runner Frank Shorter is 70. Actress Deidre Hall is 70. TV show host Jane Pauley is 67. Actor Brian Stokes Mitchell is 60. Movie director Peter Jackson is 56. Actor Dermot Mulroney is 54. Actor Rob Schneider is 53. Country singer Darryl Worley is 53. Actor-comedian Mike O’Malley is 52. Rap musician Adrock is 51. Songwriter Adam Schlesinger is 50. Reality TV host Troy Hartman is 46. Gospel singer Smokie Norful is 44. Actor Brian Hallisay is 39. Actress Samaire Armstrong is 37. Actor Eddie Kaye Thomas is 37. Actor Scott Clifton is 33. Actress Vanessa Marano is 25. Actresssinger Willow Smith is 17.
Thought for Today: “There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.”—Andre Gide, French author and critic (1869-1951).