Friday, August 17, 2012

TODAY IN HISTORY

Friday, August  17, 2012
AP Highlight in History: 
On Aug. 17, 1896, a prospecting party discovered gold in Alaska, a finding that touched off the Klondike Gold Rush.
 
AP Photo/Gold Rush National Historic Park
On this date in:
1915A mob in Cobb County, Ga., lynched Jewish businessman Leo Frank, who had been sentenced on flimsy evidence for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan.
1943The Allied conquest of Sicily was completed as U.S. and British forces entered Messina.
1945Indonesian nationalists declared independence from the Netherlands.
1962East German border guards shot and mortally wounded 18-year-old Peter Fechter, who had attempted to cross over the Berlin Wall into the western sector.
1969Hurricane Camille slammed into the Gulf Coast, killing 248 people.
1987Rudolf Hess, the last member of Adolf Hitler's inner circle, died at Spandau prison in West Berlin at age 93, apparently a suicide. He had been the only inmate at Spandau for 21 years.
1992Actor-director Woody Allen admitted being romantically involved with Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his longtime companion, actress Mia Farrow.
1998President Bill Clinton underwent grand jury questioning in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
1998Russia devalued the ruble.
2002Pope John Paul II arrived in Krakow, Poland, for the ninth and final visit to his native country during his papacy.
2005Israeli security forces began the forcible removal of Jews from four settlements in the Gaza Strip.
2008American swimmer Michael Phelps and three teammates won the 400-meter medley relay for Phelps' record-breaking eighth gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
2010A mistrial was declared on 23 corruption charges against ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. (He was convicted of 17 counts of corruption in a retrial.)
 
Video
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Today's Birthdays:
Actor Robert De Niro turns 69 years old today.
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
NameProfessionAge
Maureen O'HaraActress92
V.S. NaipaulNobel Prize-winning author80
Guillermo VilasTennis Hall of Famer60
Kevin RowlandRock singer (Dexy's Midnight Runners)59
Belinda CarlisleSinger (The Go-Gos)54
Sean PennActor52
Jon GrudenFootball coach, sportscaster49
Maria McKeeCountry singer48
Jill CunniffRock musician (Luscious Jackson)46
Donnie WahlbergActor, singer43
Jim CourierTennis Hall of Famer42
Jorge PosadaBaseball player41
Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia turns 29 years old today.
AP Photo/Charles Krupa

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