Today in History - May 26
By The Associated Press
Mon May 26, 12: 02 AM ET
Today is Monday, May 26, the 147th day of 2008. There are 219 days left in the year. This is the Memorial Day observance.
Today's Highlight in History:
One hundred years ago, on May 26, 1908, the first major oil strike in the Middle East took place as engineers working for British entrepreneur William Knox D'Arcy and led by George B. Reynolds hit a gusher more than 1,100 feet below ground in Masjid-i-Suleiman, Persia (Iran).
On this date:
In 1521, Martin Luther was banned by the Edict of Worms because of his religious beliefs and writings.
In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson ended with his acquittal on the remaining charges.
In 1908, British character actor Robert Morley was born in Semley, England.
In 1913, Actors' Equity Association was organized in New York.
In 1938, the House Un-American Activities Committee was established by Congress.
In 1940, the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, began during World War II.
In 1960, U.N. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge accused the Soviets of hiding a microphone inside a wood carving of the Great Seal of the United States that had been presented to the U.S. embassy in Moscow.
In 1969, the Apollo 10 astronauts returned to Earth after a successful eight-day dress rehearsal for the first manned moon landing.
In 1972, President Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in Moscow. (The U.S. withdrew from the treaty in 2002.)
In 1981, 14 people were killed when a Marine jet crashed onto the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off Florida.
Ten years ago: The Supreme Court made it far more difficult for police to be sued by people hurt during high-speed chases. The Supreme Court ruled that Ellis Island — historic gateway for millions of immigrants — is mainly in New Jersey, not New York.
Five years ago: Angering hard-liners, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared in a speech to his Likud Party that he was determined to reach a peace deal and end 36 years of rule over the Palestinians. An airplane carrying Spanish peacekeepers returning from Afghanistan crashed in Turkey, killing all 75 people aboard.
One year ago: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and American Cmdr. Gen. David Petraeus flew to Iraq's blistering western desert in a rare joint outing to highlight gains there in the fight against insurgents.
Today's Birthdays: Actor James Arness is 85. Actor Alec McCowen is 83. Sportscaster Brent Musberger is 69. Rock singer-musician Levon Helm (The Band) is 68. Country musician Gates Nichols (Confederate Railroad) is 64. Rock musician Garry Peterson (Guess Who) is 63. Singer Stevie Nicks is 60. Actress Pam Grier is 59. Actor Philip Michael Thomas is 59. Country singer Hank Williams Jr. is 59. Former astronaut Sally K. Ride is 57. Actress Margaret Colin is 51. Country singer-songwriter Dave Robbins (BlackHawk) is 49. Actor Doug Hutchison is 48. Actress Genie Francis is 46. Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait is 46. Singer Lenny Kravitz is 44. Actress Helena Bonham Carter is 42. Rock musician Phillip Rhodes is 40. Actor Joseph Fiennes is 38. Rhythm-and-blues singer Joey Kibble (Take 6) is 37. Actor-producer-writer Matt Stone is 37. Contemporary Christian musician Nathan Cochran is 30.
Thought for Today: "Show me the man who has enjoyed his school days and I will show you a bully and a bore." — Robert Morley, British actor (1908-1992).
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080526/...n_hi/history_1