Tuesday, July 12th
The 193rd day of 2005
There are 172 days left in the year

Today's Highlights in History

On July 12, 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale announced he had chosen U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York to be his running mate; Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket. (Go to article.)

On July 12, 1861, George Washington Carver, the African-American scientist whose discoveries helped to improve agriculture in the South, was born. Following his death on Jan. 5, 1943, his obituary appeared in The Times. (Go to obit. Other Birthdays)

On July 12, 1862, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about General Benjamin Butler's controversial "Woman Order" in Union-occupied New Orleans. (See the cartoon and read an explanation.)

Reference: The New York Times



The following courtesy Iraq War Today

Today in History
1290 - King Edward I orders Jews expelled from England.
1543 - England's King Henry VIII weds Catherine Parr (his sixth, and final, wife).
1691 - William III beats James II at the Battle of Aughrim (Aghrim) England.
1774 - The citizens of Carlisle, PA, pass a declaration of independence.
1812 - U.S. forces led by General Hull invade Canada (War of 1812).
1862 - Congress authorizes the Medal of Honor.
1882 - The first U.S. ocean pier is completed in Washington, D.C.
1906 - Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish artillery officer, is found innocent of treason in France.
1909 - The 16th Amendment is approved, giving the government the right to tax incomes.
1912 - "Queen Elizabeth" becomes the first foreign feature film exhibited in the U.S.
1920 - Lithuania and the U.S.S.R. sign a peace treaty; Lithuania becomes an independent republic.
1933 - Congress passes the first minimum wage law, setting minimum wage at 33¢ an hour.
1934 - The U.S. Disciplinary Barracks on Alcatraz Island are abandoned.
1948 - Six RAF Havilland Vampires become the first jets to fly across the Atlantic.
1957 - Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the first U.S. President to fly in a helicopter.
1960 - Sputnik-5 (U.S.S.R.) is launched, carrying two dogs.
1966 - The U.S. Treasury announces it will buy mutilated silver coins at the silver bullion price at the Philadelphia and Denver mints.
1977 - The Enterprise Space Shuttle has its first free flight test.
1982 - FEMA promises that survivors of a nuclear war will get their mail.
1984 - Geraldine Ferraro of NY becomes the first female major-party Vice Presidential candidate.
1988 - The U.S.S.R. launches Phobos II for a Martian orbit.

Birthdays
100 BC- Gaius Julius Caesar, Roman Emperor
1817 - Henry David Thoreau, naturalist/author/pacifist
1854 - George Eastman, inventor of the Kodak camera
1908 - Milton Berle, comedian (Uncle Miltie, Mr Television)
1922 - Clark MacGregor, politician (involved in Watergate)
1922 - Mark O. Hatfield (Sen-OR)
1948 - Richard Simmons, exercise guru (Deal-a-Meal)

Passings
1450 - Jack Cade, killed in a revolt against British King Henry VI

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Almendariz, Samuel, US Army SF (TX); KIA, body not recovered
Dove, Jack Paris, Sr., USAF (VA); T28D shot down, remains returned July, 1995
Frank, Martin S., US Army; released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998
Henry, Nathan B., US Army (NC); released by PRG (injured) March, 1973 - alive as of 1998
McMurray, Cordine, US Army (MI); released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 2000
Newell, Stanley A., US Army (IL); released by PRG March, 1973 - retired as a Major - alive and well as of 1998
Perricone, Richard R., US Army (NY); released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998
Schiele, James F., US Army (UT); released by PRG March, 1973 - alive as of 1998
Squire, Boyd Edwin, USAF (CA); T28D shot down, remains returned July, 1995
Sullivan, Robert J., US Army SF (NH); KIA, body not recovered
Van Bendegom, James L., US Army (WI); wounded, died several days after capture
1969
Bannon, Paul W. USAF (AL); F4D shot down
Pike, Peter X., USAF (NY); F4D shot down
1972
Shimkin, Alex, US Civilian (IL)
Huard, James L., USAF (MI); F4E shot down, remains ID'd January, 1997
O'Donnell, Samuel, Jr., USAF (MI); F4E shot down