Today in History

Today is Thursday, Oct. 26, the 299th day of 2017. There are 66 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On October 26th, 1881, the "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" took place in Tombstone, Arizona, as Wyatt Earp, his two brothers and "Doc" Holliday confronted Ike Clanton's gang. Three members of Clanton's gang were killed; Earp's brothers and Holliday were wounded.

On this date:

In 1774, the First Continental Congress adjourned in Philadelphia.

In 1825, the Erie Canal opened in upstate New York, connecting Lake Erie and the Hudson River.

In 1861, the legendary Pony Express officially ceased operations, giving way to the transcontinental telegraph. (The last run of the Pony Express was completed the following month.)

In 1921, the Chicago Theatre, billed as "the Wonder Theatre of the World," first opened.

In 1944, the World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf ended in a major Allied victory over Japanese forces, whose naval capabilities were badly crippled.

In 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed a measure raising the minimum wage from 40 to 75 cents an hour.

In 1958, Pan American Airways flew its first Boeing 707 jetliner from New York to Paris in 8 hours and 41 minutes.

In 1967, the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, crowned himself emperor after 26 years on the Peacock Throne.

In 1972, national security adviser Henry Kissinger declared, "Peace is at hand" in Vietnam. Aviation innovator Igor Sikorsky died in Easton, Connecticut, at age 83.

In 1984, "Baby Fae," a newborn with a severe heart defect, was given the heart of a baboon in an experimental transplant in Loma Linda, California. (Baby Fae lived 21 days with the animal heart.)

In 1994, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel and Prime Minister Abdel Salam Majali of Jordan signed a peace treaty during a ceremony at the Israeli-Jordanian border attended by President Bill Clinton.

In 2001, President George W. Bush signed the USA Patriot Act, giving authorities unprecedented ability to search, seize, detain or eavesdrop in their pursuit of possible terrorists.

Ten years ago: A federal jury in Kansas City, Missouri, decided that Lisa Montgomery, convicted of killing expectant mother Bobbie Jo Stinnett and cutting the baby from her womb, should receive the death penalty. (Montgomery remains on death row.) The Georgia Supreme Court freed Genarlow Wilson, saying his 10-year sentence for consensual oral sex with another teenager, a 15-year-old girl, was cruel and unusual punishment. Friedman Paul Erhardt, television's "Chef Tell," died in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania, at age 63.

Five years ago: After leaving nearly five dozen people dead in the Caribbean, Hurricane Sandy headed toward the eastern United States, with forecasters warning that it would merge with two winter storm systems to create a megastorm. The National Hockey League announced that its labor dispute would force the cancellation of all games through the end of November.

One year ago: The Pentagon worked to stave off a public relations nightmare, suspending efforts to force California National Guard troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to repay enlistment bonuses that might have been improperly awarded. A pair of strong aftershocks shook central Italy, two months after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 300 people. The Chicago Cubs beat Cleveland 5-1 in Game 2 for their first victory during a World Series since 1945.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Shelley Morrison is 81. Actress Jaclyn Smith is 72. TV host Pat Sajak is 71. Hillary Rodham Clinton is 70. Musician Bootsy Collins is 66. Actor James Pickens Jr. is 65. Rock musician Keith Strickland (The B-52's) is 64. Actor D.W. Moffett is 63. Actress-singer Rita Wilson is 61. The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, is 58. Actor Patrick Breen is 57. Actor Dylan McDermott is 56. Actor Cary Elwes is 55. Singer Natalie Merchant is 54. Actor Steve Valentine is 51. Country singer Keith Urban is 50. Actor Tom Cavanagh is 49. Actress Rosemarie DeWitt is 46. Actor Anthony Rapp is 46. Writer-producer Seth MacFarlane (TV: "Family Guy") is 44. TV correspondent and co-host Paula Faris (TV: "The View") is 42. Actress Lennon Parham is 42. Actor Hal Ozsan is 41. Actor Jon Heder is 40. Singer Mark Barry (BBMak) is 39. Actor Jonathan Chase is 38. Olympic silver medal figure skater Sasha Cohen is 33. Rapper Schoolboy Q is 31. Actor Beulah Koale (TV: "Hawaii Five-0") is 26.

Thought for Today: "The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights, cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." -- Ayn Rand, American author (1905-1982).