NEA DATEBOOK

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1857, settlers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and members of the Utah Territorial Militia massacred 120 pioneers in Mountain Meadows, Utah.

In 2001, hijacked planes crashed into New York City’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Virginia and a Pennsylvania field in terrorist attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives.

In 2007, Russia announced that it had successfully tested the world’s most powerful nonnuclear bomb, a thermobaric weapon nicknamed the “father of all bombs.”

In 2012, a heavily armed militia attacked the U.S. consulate and a CIA compound in Benghazi, Libya, killing four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: O. Henry (18621910), short-story writer; D.H. Lawrence (18851930), author; Paul “Bear” Bryant (1913-1983), football coach; Tom Landry (1924-2000), football coach; Brian De Palma (1940- ), film director;

Tony Gilroy (1956- ), filmmaker; Virginia Madsen (1961- ), actress; Moby (1965- ), singersongwriter; Harry Connick Jr. (1967- ), actor/ singer-songwriter; Ludacris (1977- ), rapper/actor; Ed Reed (1978- ), football player; Tyler Hoechlin (1987- ), actor.

TODAY’S FACT: John Tyler was the first vice president to assume the presidency because of a sitting president’s death. During the term he served, after William Henry Harrison’s monthlong presidency, Tyler was often referred to slightingly as “His Accidency” or “Acting President.”

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1985, Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb’s record with his 4,192nd career hit.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.” — D.H. Lawrence

TODAY’S NUMBER: 4,256 — total career hits for Pete Rose, which remains the Major League Baseball record.

TODAY’S MOON: Between last quarter moon (Sept. 6) and new moon (Sept. 14).