On this day, Oct. 8

1871 The Great Chicago Fire erupted; fires also broke out in Peshtigo, Wis., and in several communities in Michigan.

1936 The Rev. Charles E. Coughlin, Detroit radio priest and head of the National Union for Social Justice, in a speech to an overflow crowd of 4,500 at Syria Mosque, charged that President Franklin R. Roosevelt “has adopted communistic activities.”

1956 Ex-President Harry S. Truman campaigned in Pittsburgh for the Democratic ticket.

1985 The hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro killed American passenger Leon Klinghoffer, who was in a wheelchair, and threw his body overboard.

1998 The House triggered an open-ended impeachment inquiry against President Bill Clinton in a momentous 258-176 vote; 31 Democrats joined majority Republicans in opening the way for nationally televised impeachment hearings.

2007 Today marked a record high temperature of 87 degrees in Pittsburgh; the previous high of 86 degrees was recorded in 1916.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Entertainment reporter Rona Barrett, 86. Actor Paul Hogan, 83. R&B singer Fred Cash (The Impressions), 82. Civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson, 81. Comedian Chevy Chase, 79. Author R.L. Stine, 79. Actor Dale Dye, 78. Country singer Susan Raye, 78. TV personality Sarah Purcell, 74. R&B singer Airrion Love (The Stylistics), 73. Actor Sigourney Weaver, 73. R&B singer-musician Robert “Kool” Bell (Kool & the Gang), 72. Producer-director Edward Zwick, 70. Actor Michael Dudikoff, 68. Comedian Darrell Hammond, 67. Actor Stephanie Zimbalist, 66. Actor Kim Wayans, 61. Rock singer Steve Perry (Cherry Poppin’ Daddies), 59. Actor Ian Hart, 58. Gospel/R&B singer CeCe Winans, 58. Rock musician C.J. Ramone (The Ramones), 57. Actor-producer Karyn Parsons, 56. Singer-producer Teddy Riley, 56. Actor Emily Procter, 54. Actor Dylan Neal, 53. Actor-screenwriter Matt Damon, 52. Actor-comedian Robert Kelly, 52. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, 52. Actor Martin Henderson, 48. Actor Kristanna Loken, 43. Actor Nick Cannon, 42. Singer-song writer producer Bruno Mars, 37. Actor Molly Quinn, 29. Actor/singer Bella Thorne, 25.

Thought for today: “History is the propaganda of the victors.” — Ernst Toller, German poet

and dramatist (1893-1939)