June fifth

Today's Highlight in History:
On June fifth, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated after claiming victory in California's Democratic presidential primary. Gunman Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was immediately arrested.

On this date:
In 1783, Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier publicly demonstrated their hot-air balloon in a ten-minute flight over Annonay, France.

In 1794, Congress passed the Neutrality Act, which prohibited Americans from enlisting in the service of a foreign power.

In 1884, Civil War hero General William T. Sherman refused the Republican presidential nomination, saying, "I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected."

In 1917, about ten million American men began registering for the draft in World War One.

In 1933, the United States went off the gold standard.

In 1940, the Battle of France began during World War Two.

In 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall gave a speech at Harvard University in which he outlined an aid program for Europe that came to be known as "The Marshall Plan."

In 1967, war erupted in the Mideast as Israel raided Egyptian military targets. Syria, Jordan and Iraq entered the conflict.

In 1975, Egypt reopened the Suez Canal to international shipping, eight years after it was closed because of the 1967 war with Israel.

In 1976, eleven people were killed when the Teton Dam in Idaho burst.

Ten years ago: Authorities in Oakland County, Michigan, moved to prevent Dr. Jack Kevorkian from continuing to make available a suicide device that Janet Adkins, an Oregon woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, had used a day earlier to take her own life.

Five years ago: "Allison," a minimal hurricane, buffeted the Gulf Coast with 75 mile-per-hour winds, swamping streets and spinning off tornadoes but causing no major damage.

One year ago: Jazz and pop singer Mel Torme died in Los Angeles at age 73. Pope John Paul the Second began a 13-day pilgrimage to his native Poland. "Charismatic" failed in his bid to win racing's Triple Crown, finishing third behind "Lemon Drop Kid" and "Vision and Verse" in the Belmont Stakes. Steffi Graf won her sixth French Open title, beating top-ranked Martina Hingis 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

"In a dream you are never eighty."

-- Anne Sexton, American poet (1928-1974).