TODAY IN HISTORY

1821

Missouri became the 24th state.

1945

A day after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Imperial Japan conveyed its willingness to surrender provided the status of Emperor Hirohito remained unchanged.

1969

Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in their Los Angeles home by members of Charles Manson’s cult, one day after actor Sharon Tate and four other people were slain.

1977

Postal employee David Berkowitz was arrested in Yonkers, New York, accused of being “Son of Sam,” the gunman who killed six people and wounded seven others in the New York City area.

1993

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as the second female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

1995

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were charged with 11 counts in the Oklahoma City bombing.

2006

British authorities announced they had thwarted a terrorist plot to simultaneously blow up 10 aircraft heading to the U.S. using explosives smuggled in hand luggage.

Birthdays

Singer Ronnie Spector is 78. Actor Antonio Banderas is 61. Rock musician Jon Farriss (INXS) is 60. Singer Julia Fordham is 59.