Today in History

Today is Sunday, July 13, the 194th day of 2014. There are 171 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On July 13, 1939, Frank Sinatra made his first commercial recording, "From the Bottom of My Heart" and "Melancholy Mood," with Harry James and his Orchestra for the Brunswick label.

On this date:

In 1787, the Congress of the Confederation adopted the Northwest Ordinance, which established a government in the Northwest Territory, an area corresponding to the present-day Midwest and Upper Midwest.

In 1793, French revolutionary writer Jean-Paul Marat was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday, who was executed four days later.

In 1863, deadly rioting against the Civil War military draft erupted in New York City. (The insurrection was put down three days later.)

In 1923, a sign consisting of 50-foot-tall letters spelling out "HOLLYWOODLAND" was dedicated in the Hollywood Hills to promote a subdivision (the last four letters were removed in 1949).

In 1960, John F. Kennedy won the Democratic presidential nomination on the first ballot at his party's convention in Los Angeles.

In 1972, George McGovern received the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's convention in Miami Beach.

In 1973, former presidential aide Alexander P. Butterfield revealed to Senate Watergate Committee staff members the existence of President Richard Nixon's secret White House taping system. (Butterfield's public revelation came three days later.)

In 1974, the Senate Watergate Committee proposed sweeping reforms in an effort to prevent another Watergate scandal.

In 1977, a blackout lasting 25 hours hit the New York City area.

In 1978, Lee Iacocca was fired as president of Ford Motor Co. by chairman Henry Ford II.

In 1985, "Live Aid," an international rock concert in London, Philadelphia, Moscow and Sydney, took place to raise money for Africa's starving people.

In 1999, Angel Maturino Resendiz, suspected of being the "Railroad Killer," surrendered in El Paso, Texas. (Resendiz was executed in 2006.) Stanley Kubrick's final film, "Eyes Wide Shut" starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, had its premiere in Los Angeles. (The movie opened in wide release three days later.)

Ten years ago: A confidant of Osama bin Laden (Khaled bin Ouda bin Mohammed al-Harbi) surrendered to Saudi diplomats in Iran and was flown to Saudi Arabia. The American League cruised past the National League 9-4 in the All-Star game at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Five years ago: Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic Supreme Court nominee in history, vowed loyalty to "the impartiality of our justice system" at the start of her Senate confirmation hearing. President Barack Obama, back from his overseas trip, stepped forcefully back into the health care debate as he presented his nominee for surgeon general, Dr. Regina Benjamin.

One year ago: A jury in Sanford, Florida, cleared neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman of all charges in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager whose killing unleashed furious debate over racial profiling, self-defense and equal justice. Tim Lincecum threw the second no-hitter in 11 days as the San Francisco Giants defeated the last-place San Diego Padres 9-0. Actor Cory Monteith, who'd shot to fame in the hit TV series "Glee" but was beset by addiction struggles, was found dead in a hotel room in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; he was 31. Attorney Leonard Garment, 89, a friend and adviser to President Richard Nixon, died in New York.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Patrick Stewart is 74. Actor Robert Forster is 73. Actor Harrison Ford is 72. Singer-guitarist Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) is 72. Actor-comedian Cheech Marin is 68. Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid is 66. Actress Didi Conn is 63. Singer Louise Mandrell is 60. Actor-director Cameron Crowe is 57. Tennis player Anders Jarryd is 53. Rock musician Gonzalo Martinez De La Cotera (Marcy Playground) is 52. Actor Michael Jace is 52. Comedian Tom Kenny (TV: "SpongeBob SquarePants") is 52. Country singer-songwriter Victoria Shaw is 52. Bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent is 52. Actor Kenny Johnson is 51. Country singer Neil Thrasher is 49. Singer Deborah Cox is 41. Actress Ashley Scott is 37. Rock musician Will Champion (Coldplay) is 36. Actor Fran Kranz is 33. Actor Colton Haynes is 26. Actor Steven R. McQueen is 26.

Thought for Today: "In every age it has been the tyrant, the oppressor and the exploiter who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, or religion, or both to deceive and overawe the People." -- Eugene V. Debs, American labor activist (1855-1926).

Copyright 2014, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.