November third

Today's Highlight in History:
On November third, 1900, the first automobile show in the United States opened at New York's Madison Square Garden under the auspices of the Automobile Club of America.

On this date:
In 1868, Republican Ulysses S. Grant won the presidential election over Democrat Horatio Seymour.

In 1896, Republican William McKinley defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan for the presidency.

In 1903, Panama proclaimed its independence from Colombia.

In 1908, Republican William Howard Taft was elected president, outpolling William Jennings Bryan.

In 1936, President Roosevelt won a landslide election victory over Republican challenger Alfred M. "Alf" Landon.

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched "Sputnik Two," the second manmade satellite, into orbit; on board was a dog named "Laika" who was sacrificed in the experiment.

In 1964, President Johnson soundly defeated Republican challenger Barry Goldwater to win a White House term in his own right.

In 1970, Salvador Allende was inaugurated as president of Chile.

In 1992, Bill Clinton was elected 42nd president of the United States, defeating President Bush.

In 1992, Illinois Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun became the first black woman elected to the US Senate.

Ten years ago: Secretary of State James A. Baker the Third embarked on a fast-paced tour of seven countries to "lay the foundation" for possible military action against Iraq. Broadway musical actress Mary Martin died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 76.

Five years ago: President Clinton dedicated a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery to the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The Labor Department reported the nation's unemployment rate had edged down to five-point-five percent in October, a seven-month low. Typhoon "Angela" ripped through the Philippines, killing more than 880 people.

One year ago: Aaron McKinney was convicted of murder in the beating of gay Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard. (McKinney and Russell Henderson, who pleaded guilty to kidnapping and murder, are serving life prison sentences.)

"You must be true to yourself. Strong enough to be true to yourself. Brave enough to be strong enough to be true to yourself. Wise enough to be brave enough, to be strong enough to shape yourself from what you actually are."

-- Sylvia Constance Ashton-Warner, New Zealander author and educator (1908-1984).