Today in history: October 6

updated 12:11 a.m. ET Oct. 6, 2006

Today is Friday, Oct. 6, the 279th day of 2006. There are 86 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:
On October 6, 1927, the era of talking pictures arrived with the opening of “The Jazz Singer,” a movie starring Al Jolson which featured both silent and sound-synchronized scenes.

On this date:
In 1536, English theologian and scholar William Tyndale, who was the first to translate the Bible into Early Modern English, was executed for heresy.

In 1884, the Naval War College was established in Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1889, the Moulin Rouge in Paris first opened its doors to the public.

In 1949, President Truman signed the Mutual Defense Assistance Act, totaling $1.3 billion in military aid to NATO countries.

In 1949, American-born Iva Toguri D’Aquino, convicted of treason for being Japanese wartime broadcaster “Tokyo Rose,” was sentenced in San Francisco to ten years in prison and fined $10,000. (She ended up serving more than six years.)

In 1973, war erupted in the Middle East as Egypt and Syria attacked Israel during the Yom Kippur holiday.

In 1976, in his second debate with Jimmy Carter, President Ford asserted there was “no Soviet domination of eastern Europe.” (Ford later conceded he’d misspoken.)

In 1981, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was shot to death by extremists while reviewing a military parade.

In 1983, Cardinal Terence Cooke, the spiritual head of the Archdiocese of New York, died at age 62.

In 1989, actress Bette Davis died in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, at age 81.

Ten years ago: President Clinton and Bob Dole clashed vigorously over taxes, trustworthiness and spending priorities in a prime-time debate in Hartford, Connecticut.

Five years ago: Cal Ripken played his last game in the major leagues as his Baltimore Orioles lost to the visiting Boston Red Sox, 5-to-1.

One year ago: President Bush sought to rally flagging public support for the war in Iraq, accusing militants of seeking to establish a “radical Islamic empire” with Iraq as the base.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Britt Ekland is 64. Impressionist Fred Travalena is 64. Singer Millie Small is 60. Singer-musician Thomas McClary is 56. Rock singer Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon) is 55. Rock singer-musician David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) is 52. Actress Elisabeth Shue is 43. Singer Matthew Sweet is 42. Actress Jacqueline Obradors is 40. Country singer Tim Rushlow is 40. Rock musician Tommy Stinson (The Replacements; Soul Asylum) is 40. Actor Ioan Gruffudd is 33.

Thought for Today: “No single man makes history. History cannot be seen, just as one cannot see grass growing.” -- Boris Pasternak, Russian author (1890-1960).

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