October 27th

Today's Highlight in History:
On October 27th, 1787, the first of the Federalist Papers, a series of essays calling for ratification of the United States Constitution, was published in a New York newspaper.

On this date:
In 1858, the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was born in New York City.

In 1880, Theodore Roosevelt married Alice Lee.

In 1904, the first rapid transit subway, the IRT, opened in New York City.

In 1914, author-poet Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales.

In 1922, the first annual celebration of Navy Day took place.

In 1938, Du Pont announced a name for its new synthetic yarn: "nylon."

In 1947, "You Bet Your Life," starring Groucho Marx, premiered on ABC Radio. (It later became a television show on NBC.)

In 1954, Walt Disney's first television program, titled "Disneyland" after his yet-to-be completed theme park, premiered on ABC.

In 1967, "Expo `67" closed in Montreal, Canada.

In 1978, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin were named winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their progress toward achieving a Middle East accord.

Ten years ago: The Senate gave final legislative approval to a record package of taxes and spending cuts, hours after the House approved the plan. Death claimed bandleader Xavier Cugat at age 90 and author Elliott Roosevelt at age 80.

Five years ago: A sniper killed one soldier and wounded 18 others at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (Paratrooper William J. Kreutzer was later convicted in the shootings, and condemned to death.) Thousands rallied in Montreal for national unity three days before a referendum on whether Quebec should secede.

One year ago: In the first debate of the Democratic presidential race, Al Gore sought to stem his decline in the polls by attacking rival Bill Bradley's health care and spending plans. The US federal budget surplus was put at $123 billion in 1998, marking the first back-to-back surpluses since the 1950's. The New York Yankees won their second straight World Series sweep, defeating the Atlanta Braves in game four, 4-to-1.

"I'm an idealist -- I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way."

-- Carl Sandburg, American poet and author (1878-1967).