TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is Friday, Oct. 12, the 285th day of 2018. There are 80 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 12, 1973, President Richard Nixon nominated House minority leader Gerald R. Ford of Michigan to succeed Spiro T. Agnew as vice president.

On this date:

In 1492 (according to the Old Style calendar), Christopher Columbus’ expedition arrived in the present-day Bahamas.

In 1792, the first recorded U.S. celebration of Columbus Day was held to mark the tricentennial of Christopher Columbus’ landing.

In 1971, the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on Broadway.

In 1997, singer John Denver was killed in the crash of his privately built aircraft in Monterey Bay, Calif.; he was 53.

In 2007, Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won the Nobel Peace Prize for sounding the alarm over global warming.

Today’s Birthdays: Broadcast journalist Chris Wallace is 71. Actress-singer Susan Anton is 68. Actor Hugh Jackman is 50. Actor Adam Rich is 50. Rhythmand-blues singer Garfield Bright (Shai) is 49. Country musician Martie Maguire (Courtyard Hounds, The Dixie Chicks) is 49. Actor Kirk Cameron is 48. Olympic gold medal skier Bode Miller is 41. Rock singer Jordan Pundik (New Found Glory) is 39. Actor Brian J. Smith is 37. Actor Tyler Blackburn is 32. Actor Marcus T. Paulk is 32. Actor Josh Hutcherson is 26.

Thought for Today: “Everyone’s quick to blame the alien.” — Aeschylus, Greek poet and dramatist (524 B.C.?-456 B.C.?).