TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS MONDAY, SEPT. 13, the 256th day of 2021. There are 109 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY:
On this date in 1971, a four-day inmates’ rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in western New York ended as police and guards stormed the prison; the ordeal and final assault claimed the lives of 32 inmates and 11 hostages.
In 1788, the Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election and declared New York City the temporary national capital.
In 1814, during the War of 1812, British naval forces began bombarding Fort McHenry in Baltimore, but were driven back by American defenders in a battle that lasted until the following morning.
In 1959, Elvis Presley first met his future wife, 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, while stationed in West Germany with the U.S. Army. (They married in 1967 but divorced in 1973.)
In 1962, Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett rejected the U.S. Supreme Court’s order for the University of Mississippi to admit James Meredith, a Black student, declaring in a televised address, “We will not drink from the cup of genocide.”
In 1970, the first New York City Marathon was held; winner Gary Muhrcke finished the 26.2-mile run, which took place entirely inside Central Park, in 2:31:38.
In 1990, the combination police-courtroom drama “Law & Order” premiered on NBC.
In 1993, at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat shook hands after signing an accord granting limited Palestinian autonomy.
In 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur died at a Las Vegas hospital six days after he was wounded in a drive-by shooting; he was 25.
In 1997, funeral services were held in
Calcutta, India, for Nobel peace laureate Mother Teresa.
In 1998, former Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace died in Montgomery at age 79.
In 2001, two days after the 9/11 terror attacks, the first few jetliners returned to the nation’s skies, but several major airports remained closed and others opened only briefly. President George W. Bush visited injured Pentagon workers and said he would carry the nation’s prayers to New York.
In 2010, Rafael Nadal won his first U.S. Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Actor Barbara Bain is 90. Actor Eileen Fulton (TV: “As the World Turns”) is 88. Actor Joe E. Tata is 85. Rock singer David ClaytonThomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears) is 80. Actor Jacqueline Bisset and singer Peter Cetera are 77. Actor Christine Estabrook is 71. Actor Jean Smart is 70. Singer Randy Jones (The Village People) and record producer Don Was are 69. Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr. is 67. Actor-comedian Geri Jewell is 65. Country singer Bobbie Cryner and rock singer-musician Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) are 60. Radio-TV personality Tavis Smiley is 57. Rock musician Zak Starkey and actor/comedian Jeff Ross are 56. Actor Louis Mandylor is 55. Olympic gold medal runner Michael Johnson and rock musician Steve Perkins are 54. Actor Roger Howarth is 53. Actor Dominic Fumusa is 52. Actor Louise Lombard is 51. Former tennis player Goran Ivanisevic is 50. Country singer Aaron Benward (Blue County) is 48. Country musician Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts) and actor Scott Vickaryous are 46. Singer Fiona Apple is 44. Contemporary Christian musician Hector Cervantes (Casting Crowns) and actor Ben Savage are 41. Rock singer Niall Horan (One Direction) is 28. Actor Mitch Holleman is 26. Actor Lili Reinhart (TV: “Riverdale”) is 25.