TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS TUESDAY, SEPT. 17, the 260th day of 2019. There are 105 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY: On this date in 1987, the city of Philadelphia, birthplace of the U.S. Constitution, threw a big party to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the historic document; in a speech at Independence Hall, President Ronald Reagan acclaimed the framing of the Constitution as a milestone “that would profoundly and forever alter not just these United States but the world.”
In 1787, the Constitution of the United States was completed and signed by a majority of delegates attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
In 1862, more than 3,600 men were killed in the Civil War Battle of Antietam in Maryland.
In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland during World War II, more than two weeks after Nazi Germany had launched its assault.
In 1944, during World War II, Allied paratroopers launched Operation Market Garden, landing behind German lines in the Netherlands. (After initial success, the Allies were beaten back by the Germans.)
In 1947, James V. Forrestal was sworn in as the first U.S. Secretary of Defense.
In 1971, citing health reasons, Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, 85, retired. (Black, who was succeeded by Lewis F. Powell Jr., died eight days after making his announcement.)
In 1978, after meeting at Camp David, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed a framework for a peace treaty.
In 1994, Heather Whitestone of Alabama was crowned the first deaf Miss America.
In 1996, former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew died in Berlin, Maryland, at age 77.
In 2001, six days after 9/11, stock prices nosedived, but stopped short of collapse in an emotional, flag-waving reopening of Wall Street; the Dow Jones industrial average ended the day down 684.81 at 8,920.70.
In 2004, San Francisco’s Barry Bonds hit the 700th home run of his career, joining Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) as the only players to reach the milestone (San Francisco beat San Diego, 4-1).
In 2011, a demonstration calling itself Occupy Wall Street began in New York, prompting similar protests around the U.S. and the world.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, is 86. Singer LaMonte McLemore (The Fifth Dimension) is 84. Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter is 80. Retired U.S. Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni is 76. Basketball Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson is 74. Singer Fee Waybill is 71. Actress Cassandra Peterson (“Elvira, Mistress of the Dark”) is 68. Comedian Rita Rudner is 66. Muppeteer Kevin Clash (former voice of Elmo on “Sesame Street”) is 59. Directoractor Paul Feig, movie director Baz Luhrmann and singer BeBe Winans are 57. TV personality/businessman Robert Herjavec (TV: “Shark Tank”) is 56. Actor Kyle Chandler and director-producer Bryan Singer are 54. Rapper Doug E. Fresh is 53. Actor Malik Yoba is 52. Rock singer Anastacia is 51. Actor Matthew Settle is 50. Rapper Vinnie (Naughty By Nature) is 49. Actor-comedian Bobby Lee and actor Felix Solis are 48. Rhythm-andblues singer Marcus Sanders (Hi-Five) is 46. Actress-singer Nona Gaye is 45. Singer-actor Constantine Maroulis and NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson are 44. Pop singer Maile Misajon (Eden’s Crush) is 43. Country singer-songwriter Stephen Cochran, rock musician Chuck Comeau (Simple Plan) and actor Billy Miller are 40. Country singer Desi Wasdin (3 of Hearts) is 36. Rock musician Jon Walker and NHL forward Alex Ovechkin are 34. Actress Danielle Brooks and Gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds are 30. Actress-singer Denyse Tontz is 25. NHL center Auston Matthews is 22.