September 25th

Today's Highlight in History:
On September 25th, 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor was sworn in as the first female justice on the Supreme Court.

On this date:
In 1690, one of the earliest American newspapers, "Publick Occurrences," published its first -- and last -- edition in Boston.

In 1775, American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen was captured by the British as he led an attack on Montreal.

In 1789, the first United States Congress adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution and sent them to the states for ratification. (Ten of the amendments became the Bill of Rights.)

In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed a measure establishing Sequoia National Park.

In 1890, Wilford Woodruff, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued a Manifesto formally renouncing the practice of polygamy.

In 1897, American author William Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi.

In 1957, with 300 US Army troops standing guard, nine black children forced to withdraw from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, because of unruly white crowds were escorted to class.

In 1973, the three-man crew of the US space laboratory "Skylab Two" splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean after spending 59 days in orbit.

In 1978, 144 people were killed when a Pacific Southwest Airlines Boeing 727 and a private plane collided over San Diego.

In 1979, the musical "Evita" opened on Broadway.

Ten years ago: The UN Security Council voted 14-to-1 to impose an air embargo against Iraq (Cuba cast the lone dissenting vote). In a videotaped message to Americans, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein warned that if President Bush launched a war against his country, "it would not be up to him to end it."

Five years ago: Ross Perot announced he would form a new Independence Party that would field its own White House candidate and would try to be the swing vote in congressional races.

One year ago: Vice President Al Gore and former Senator Bill Bradley squared off in back-to-back speeches to the Democratic National Committee as each sought support for his 2000 presidential campaign.

"History is too serious to be left to historians."

-- Iain Macleod, British politician (1913-1970).