TODAY IN HISTORY

Today

is Friday, Sept. 21, the 264th day of 2018. There are 101 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Sept. 21, 1981, the Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor to become the first female justice on the Supreme Court.

On this date:

In 1893, one of America’s first horseless carriages was taken for a short test drive in Springfield, Mass., by Frank Duryea, who had designed the vehicle with his brother, Charles.

In 1937, “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published by George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. of London.

In 1970, “NFL Monday Night Football” made its debut on ABC-TV as the Cleveland Browns defeated the visiting New York Jets, 31-21.

In 1977, after weeks of controversy over past business and banking practices, President Jimmy Carter’s embattled budget director, Bert Lance, resigned.

In 1996, John F. Kennedy Jr. married Carolyn Bessette in a secret ceremony on Cumberland Island, Ga.

Today’s Birthdays: Author-comedian Fannie Flagg is 77. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is 75. Author Stephen King is 71. Basketball Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore is 69. Actor-comedian Bill Murray is 68. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye is 67. Movie producer-writer Ethan Coen is 61. Actor-comedian Dave Coulier is 59. Actress Nancy Travis is 57. Actor Rob Morrow is 56. Retired MLB All-Star Cecil Fielder is 55. Actress Cheryl Hines is 53. Country singer Faith Hill is 51. Actress-talk show host Ricki Lake is 50. Actor Luke Wilson is 47. Actor Paulo Costanzo is 40. Actor Bradford Anderson is 39. Actress Autumn Reeser is 38. TV personality Nicole Richie is 37. Actress Maggie Grace is 35. Actor Joseph Mazzello is 35. Actress Ahna O’Reilly is 34. Rapper Wale is 34. Actor Ryan Guzman is 31. Actors Lorenzo and Nikolas Brino are 20.

Thought for Today: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” — Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (born 1788, died this date in 1860).