Today in History

Today is Saturday, August 8, the 220th day of 2015. There are 145 days left in the year.

Today's Highlights in History:

On August 8, 1945, President Harry S. Truman signed the U.S. instrument of ratification for the United Nations Charter. The Soviet Union declared war against Japan during World War II.

On this date:

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena to spend the remainder of his days in exile.

In 1911, President William Howard Taft signed a measure raising the number of U.S. representatives from 391 to 433, effective with the next Congress, with a proviso to add two more when New Mexico and Arizona became states.

In 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japan completed its occupation of Beijing.

In 1942, during World War II, six Nazi saboteurs who were captured after landing in the U.S. were executed in Washington, D.C.; two others who'd cooperated with authorities were spared.

In 1953, the United States and South Korea initialed a mutual security pact.

In 1963, Britain's "Great Train Robbery" took place as thieves made off with 2.6 million pounds in banknotes.

In 1968, the Republican national convention in Miami Beach nominated Richard Nixon for president on the first ballot.

In 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew branded as "damned lies" reports he had taken kickbacks from government contracts in Maryland, and vowed not to resign -- which he ended up doing.

In 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation, effective the next day, following damaging new revelations in the Watergate scandal.

In 1994, Israel and Jordan opened the first road link between the two once-warring countries.

In 2007, space shuttle Endeavour roared into orbit with teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan on board.

In 2009, Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in as the U.S. Supreme Court's first Hispanic and third female justice.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush signed a bill to give billions in tax breaks to encourage homegrown energy production but acknowledged it wouldn't quickly reduce high gasoline prices or the nation's dependence on foreign oil. Iran resumed work at a uranium conversion facility after suspending nuclear work for nine months to avoid U.N. sanctions. Actress Barbara Bel Geddes, 82, died in Northeast Harbor, Maine. Publisher John H. Johnson, founder of Ebony and Jet magazines, died in Chicago at 87.

Five years ago: Flooding in Gansu province in China resulted in mudslides that killed more than 1,400 people. Academy Award-winning actress Patricia Neal died in Edgartown, Massachusetts, at 84.

One year ago: The U.S. unleashed its first airstrikes against the Islamic State group in northern Iraq amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel and militants from Gaza resumed cross-border attacks, after a three-day truce expired. Israeli movie producer Menachem Golam, 85, died in Tel Aviv. British-born actor Charles Keating, 72, died in Weston, Connecticut.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Richard Anderson is 89. Actress Nita Talbot is 85. Singer Mel Tillis is 83. Actor Dustin Hoffman is 78. Actress Connie Stevens is 77. Country singer Phil Balsley (The Statler Brothers) is 76. Actor Larry Wilcox is 68. Actor Keith Carradine is 66. Country singer Jamie O'Hara is 65. Movie director Martin Brest is 64. Radio-TV personality Robin Quivers is 63. Percussionist Anton Fig is 62. Actor Donny Most is 62. Rock musician Dennis Drew (10,000 Maniacs) is 58. TV personality Deborah Norville is 57. Actor-singer Harry Crosby is 57. Rock musician The Edge (U2) is 54. Rock musician Rikki Rockett (Poison) is 54. Rapper Kool Moe Dee is 53. Rock musician Ralph Rieckermann is 53. Middle distance runner Suzy Favor Hamilton is 47. Rock singer Scott Stapp is 42. Country singer Mark Wills is 42. Actor Kohl Sudduth is 41. Rock musician Tom Linton (Jimmy Eat World) is 40. Singer JC Chasez ('N Sync) is 39. Actress Tawny Cypress is 39. Rhythm-and-blues singer Drew Lachey (98 Degrees) is 39. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marsha Ambrosius is 38. Actress Lindsay Sloane is 38. Actress Countess Vaughn is 37. Actor Michael Urie is 35. Tennis player Roger Federer is 34. Actress Meagan Good is 34. Britain's Princess Beatrice of York is 27. Actor Ken Baumann is 26. Pop singer Shawn Mendes is 17.

Thought for Today: "Man adjusts to what he should not; he is unable to adjust to what he should." -- Jean Toomer, African-American author-poet (1894-1967).

Copyright 2015, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.