Today In History

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 7, the 250th day of 2021. There are 115 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

› 1977: The Panama Canal treaties, calling for the U.S. to eventually turn over control of the waterway to Panama, were signed in Washington by President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos.

ON THIS DATE

› 1812: The Battle of Borodino took place as French troops clashed with Russian forces outside Moscow. (The battle, ultimately won by Russia, was commemorated by composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky with his “1812 Overture.”)

› 1940: Nazi Germany began its eight-month blitz of Britain during World War II with the first air attack on London.

› 1986: Desmond Tutu was installed as the first Black clergyman to lead the Anglican Church in southern Africa.

› 2008: Troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed in government conservatorship.

› 2019: President Donald Trump said he had canceled a secret weekend meeting at Camp David with Taliban and Afghan leaders, just days before the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, after a bombing in Kabul that killed 12 people, including an American soldier.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Jazz musician Sonny Rollins is 91. Singer Gloria Gaynor is 78. Singer Alfa Anderson (Chic) is 75. Actor Susan Blakely is 73. Rock musician Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) is 68. Actor Corbin Bernsen is 67. Actor Michael Emerson is 67. Pianist Michael Feinstein is 65. Singer/songwriter Diane Warren is 65. Singer Margot Chapman is 64. Actor J. Smith-Cameron is 64. Actor W. Earl Brown is 58. Actor Toby Jones is 55. Actor-comedian Leslie Jones (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 54. Model-actor Angie Everhart is 52. Country singer Butter (Trailer Choir) is 51. Actor Monique Gabriela Curnen is 51. Actor Tom Everett Scott is 51. Rock musician Chad Sexton (311) is 51. Actor Shannon Elizabeth is 48. Actor Oliver Hudson is 45. Actor Devon Sawa is 43. Actor JD Pardo is 42. Actor Alyssa Diaz (TV: “Ray Donovan”; “Zoo”) is 36. Singer-musician Wes Willis (Rush of Fools) is 35. Actor Evan Rachel Wood is 34. Actor Jonathan Majors is 32. Actor Ian Chen (TV: “Fresh Off the Boat”) is 15.