Today in history: October 13

updated 12:07 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2006

Today is Friday, Oct. 13, the 286th day of 2006. There are 79 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:
On Oct. 13, 1792, the cornerstone of the executive mansion, later known as the White House, was laid during a ceremony in the District of Columbia.

On this date:
In A.D. 54, Roman emperor Claudius I died, after being poisoned by his wife, Agrippina.

In 1775, the United States Navy had its origins as the Continental Congress ordered the construction of a naval fleet.

In 1843, the Jewish organization B’nai B’rith was founded in New York City.

In 1845, Texas voters ratified a state constitution.

In 1943, Italy declared war on Germany, its one-time Axis partner.

In 1944, American troops entered Aachen, Germany.

In 1960, Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy participated in the third televised debate of their presidential campaign.

In 1962, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” by Edward Albee opened on Broadway.

In 1974, longtime television host Ed Sullivan died in New York City at age 72.

In 1981, voters in Egypt participated in a referendum to elect Vice President Hosni Mubarak the new president, one week after the assassination of Anwar Sadat.

Ten years ago: House Speaker Newt Gingrich, appearing on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” called on Congress to investigate campaign contributions made to President Clinton’s re-election campaign by the Lippo Group, an Indonesian banking conglomerate. The Yankees won the American League pennant, defeating the Baltimore Orioles.

Five years ago: Ukraine’s defense minister and air defense chief offered to resign, conceding that the military was involved in the explosion of a Russian airliner over the Black Sea on Oct. 4 that killed 78 people.

One year ago: British playwright Harold Pinter won the 2005 Nobel Prize in literature. Scores of Islamic militants launch simultaneous attacks on police and government buildings in Nalchik, a city in Russia’s turbulent Caucasus region, leaving 139 people dead, including 94 militants.

Today’s Birthdays: Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is 81. Playwright Frank D. Gilroy is 81. Gospel singer Shirley Caesar is 68. Actress Melinda Dillon is 67. Singer-musician Paul Simon is 65. Actress Pamela Tiffin is 64. Musician Robert Lamm (Chicago) is 62. Actor Demond Wilson is 60. Singer-musician Sammy Hagar is 59. Actor John Lone is 54. Model Beverly Johnson is 54. Actor Reggie Theus is 49. Singer Marie Osmond is 47. Rock singer Joey Belladonna (Anthrax) is 46. Actress T’Keyah Crystal Keymah is 44. Actress Kelly Preston is 44. Country singer John Wiggins is 44. Actress Kate Walsh is 39. Actress Tisha Campbell-Martin is 38. Classical singer Carlos Marin (Il Divo) is 38. Olympic silver-medal figure skater Nancy Kerrigan is 37. Country singer Rhett Akins is 37. Actor Sacha Baron Cohen is 35. Rock musician Jan Van Sichem Jr. (K’s Choice) is 34. Rhythm-and-blues singers Brandon and Brian Casey (Jagged Edge) are 31. Singer Ashanti is 26. Christian rock singer Jon Micah Sumrall (Kutless) is 26.

Thought for Today: “Children are the true connoisseurs. What’s precious to them has no price — only value.” — Bel Kaufman, American author and educator.

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