TODAY IN HISTORY

1707

The first Parliament of Great Britain, created by the Acts of Union between England and Scotland, held its first meeting.

1864

Forces led by Union Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis repelled Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price’s army in the Civil War Battle of Westport in Missouri.

1915

Tens of thousands of women paraded up Fifth Avenue in New York

City, demanding the right to vote.

1944

The World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf began, resulting in a major Allied victory against Japanese forces.

1973

President Richard Nixon agreed to turn over White House tape recordings subpoenaed by the Watergate special prosecutor to Judge John J. Sirica.

2009

President Barack

Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, giving his health chief the power to let hospitals move emergency rooms offsite to speed treatment and protect noninfected patients.

Birthdays

Movie director Philip Kaufman is 85. Former ABC News investigative reporter Brian Ross is 73. Country singer Dwight Yoakam is 65. Parodist “Weird Al” Yankovic is 62. Rock musician Robert Trujillo (Metallica) is 57. TV personality Meghan McCain is 37.