Today in History

Today’s highlight:

On Sept. 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered in ceremonies aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, ending World War II.

On this date:

In 1666, the Great Fire of London broke out.

In 1789, the United States Treasury Department was established.

In 1864, during the Civil War, Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s forces occupied Atlanta.

In 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt offered the advice, “Speak softly and carry a big stick” in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair.

In 1924, the Rudolf Friml operetta “Rose Marie” opened on Broadway.

In 1935, a Labor Day hurricane slammed into the Florida Keys, claiming more than 400 lives.

In 1944, during World War II, Navy pilot Lt. (jg) George Herbert Walker Bush was shot down by Japanese forces as he completed a bombing run over the Bonin Islands. (Bush was rescued by the crew of the submarine USS Finback; his two crew members, however, died.)

In 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam an independent republic. (Ho died on this date in 1969.)

In 1964, one of America’s most decorated military heroes of World War I, Medal of Honor recipient Alvin C. York, died in Nashville at age 76.

In 1972, Dave Wottle of the United States won the men’s 800-meter race at the Munich Summer Olympics.

In 1986, a judge in Los Angeles sentenced Cathy Evelyn Smith to three years in prison for involuntary manslaughter for her role in the 1982 drug overdose death of comedian John Belushi. (Smith served 18 months.)

In 1998, a Swissair MD-11 jetliner crashed off Nova Scotia, killing all 229 people aboard.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush summoned the nation toward victory over terrorism and economic security at home as he accepted his party’s nomination for a second term at the Republican National Convention in New York. A military jury at Camp Pendleton, California, convicted Marine Sgt. Gary Pittman of dereliction of duty and abuse of prisoners at a makeshift detention camp in Iraq; Pittman was sentenced to 60 days of hard labor and demoted to private. A jury at Fort Lewis, Washington, convicted a National Guardsman of trying to help al-Qaida; Specialist Ryan G. Anderson was sentenced to life in prison.

Five years ago: Pfizer agreed to pay a record $2.3 billion settlement for illegal drug promotion. A Taliban suicide bomber attacked officials leaving a mosque in Afghanistan, killing the country’s deputy intelligence chief and 23 others. Gunmen killed 17 people at a drug rehabilitation center in Ciudad Juarez (SEE’-yoo-dahd wahr-EHZ’), Mexico. A magnitude-7.0 earthquake rocked Indonesia, killing dozens of people.

One year ago: France released an intelligence report alleging chemical weapons use by Syria that dovetailed with similar U.S. claims, as President Bashar Assad warned that any military strike against his country would spark an uncontrollable regional war. On her fifth try, U.S. endurance swimmer Diana Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the help of a shark cage.

Today’s Birthdays: Dancer-actress Marge Champion is 95. Former Sen. Alan K. Simpson, R-Wyo., is 83. Actor-comedian Chuck McCann is 80. Former United States Olympic Committee Chairman Peter Ueberroth is 77. Actor Derek Fowlds (TV: “Yes, Minister”) is 77. Rhythm-and-blues singer Sam Gooden (The Impressions) is 75. Singer Jimmy Clanton is 74. Rhythm-and-blues singer Rosalind Ashford (Martha &the Vandellas) is 71. Singer Joe Simon is 71. Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw is 66. Basketball Hall of Famer Nate Archibald is 66. Actor Mark Harmon is 63. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., is 63. International Tennis Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors is 62. Actress Linda Purl is 59. Rock musician Jerry Augustyniak (10,000 Maniacs) is 56. Country musician Paul Deakin (The Mavericks) is 55. Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson is 54. Actor Keanu Reeves is 50. International Boxing Hall of Famer Lennox Lewis is 49. Actress Salma Hayek is 48. Actor Tuc Watkins is 48. Actress Kristen Cloke is 46. Actress Cynthia Watros is 46. Rhythm-and-blues singer K-Ci is 45. Actor-comedian Katt Williams is 41. Actor Michael Lombardi is 40. Actress Tiffany Hines is 37. Rock musician Sam Rivers (Limp Bizkit) is 37. Actor Jonathan Kite is 35. Actress Allison Miller is 29. Rock musician Spencer Smith (Panic! at the Disco) is 27. Electronic music DJ/producer Zedd is 25.

Thought for Today: “If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse; however if I treat you as though you are what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (GU’-tuh), German poet, dramatist and author (1749-1832).