TODAY IN HISTORY

Wednesday, October  31, 2012 AP Highlight in History:  On Oct. 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Palace church, marking the start of the Protestant Reformation in Germany.   AP Photo
On this date in: 1795 Poet John Keats was born in London. 1864 Nevada became the 36th state. 1926 Magician Harry Houdini died of complications from a ruptured appendix. AP Photo 1938 The day after his "War of the Worlds" broadcast had panicked radio listeners, Orson Welles expressed "deep regret" but also bewilderment that anyone had thought the show was real. 1968 President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a halt to all U.S. bombing of North Vietnam, saying he hoped for fruitful peace negotiations. President Lyndon B. Johnson 1984 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated near her residence by two Sikh security guards. 1992 It was announced that five American nuns in Liberia had been shot to death near the capital Monrovia; the killings were blamed on rebels loyal to Charles Taylor. 1999 EgyptAir Flight 990 crashed off the Massachusetts coast, killing all 217 people aboard. 2005 President George W. Bush nominated Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. 2006 P.W. Botha, South Africa's apartheid-era president, died at age 90.		Video HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS DAY IN HISTORY Today's Birthdays: Actress Piper Perabo ("Covert Affairs") turns 36 years old today. AP Photo/Peter Kramer Name Profession Age Michael Collins Astronaut 82 Dan Rather Broadcast journalist 81 Ron Rifkin Actor ("Alias") 73 Sally Kirkland Actress 71 David Ogden Stiers Actor ("M.A.S.H.") 70 Brian Doyle-Murray Actor 67 Jane Pauley Broadcast journalist 62 Peter Jackson Director ("Lord of the Rings" movies) 51 Larry Mullen Jr. Rock musician (U2) 51 Dermot Mulroney Actor 49 Rob Schneider Actor, comedian ("Saturday Night Live") 48 Rob Van Winkle (Vanilla Ice) Rapper 44 Fred McGriff Baseball player 44 Actor Brian Stokes Mitchell turns 55 years old today. AP Photo/Evan Agostini