September 27th

Today's Highlight in History:
On September 27th, 1939, Warsaw, Poland, surrendered after weeks of resistance to invading forces from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War Two.

On this date:
In 1779, John Adams was named to negotiate the Revolutionary War's peace terms with Britain.

In 1854, the first great disaster involving an Atlantic Ocean liner occurred when the steamship "Arctic" sank with 300 people aboard.

In 1928, the United States said it was recognizing the Nationalist Chinese government.

In 1942, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra performed together for the last time, at the Central Theater in Passaic, New Jersey, prior to Miller's entry into the Army.

In 1954, "Tonight!" hosted by Steve Allen, made its debut on NBC TV.

In 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev concluded his visit to the United States.

In 1959, a typhoon battered the main Japanese island of Honshu, killing nearly five-thousand people.

In 1964, the Warren Commission issued a report concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone in assassinating President Kennedy.

In 1979, Congress gave final approval to forming the Department of Education, the 13th Cabinet agency in US history.

In 1994, more than 350 Republican congressional candidates gathered on the steps of the US Capitol to sign the "Contract with America," a ten-point platform they pledged to enact if voters sent a GOP majority to the House.

Ten years ago: The deposed emir of Kuwait delivered an emotional address to the UN General Assembly in which he denounced the "rape, destruction and terror" inflicted upon his country by Iraq. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Supreme Court nomination of David H. Souter.

Five years ago: At the O.J. Simpson trial, the prosecution and defense presented dueling summations. The government unveiled its redesigned 100-dollar bill, featuring a larger, off-center portrait of Benjamin Franklin.

One year ago: Senator John McCain of Arizona officially opened his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, the same day former Vice President Dan Quayle dropped his White House bid. Tiger Stadium closed in grand fashion after 87 years as the Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals, 8-to-2.

"Sanity is a madness put to good uses."

-- George Santayana, Spanish-American philosopher (1863-1952).