Today in history

Today is Saturday, July 27, the 208th day of 2013. There are 157 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1789: President George Washington signs a measure establishing the Department of Foreign Affairs, forerunner of the Department of State.

1866: Cyrus W. Field finishes laying out the first successful underwater telegraph cable between North America and Europe. A previous cable in 1858 burns out after only a few weeks’ use.

1909: During the first official test of the U.S. Army’s first airplane, Orville Wright flies himself and a passenger, Lt. Frank Lahm, above Fort Myer, Va., for one hour and 12 minutes.

1921: Canadian researcher Frederick Banting and his assistant, Charles Best, succeed in isolating the hormone insulin at the University of Toronto.

1942: During World War II, the First Battle of El Alamein in Egypt ends in a draw as Allied forces stall the progress of Axis invaders.

1953: The Korean War armistice is signed at Panmunjom, ending three years of fighting.

1967: President Lyndon B. Johnson appoints the Kerner Commission to assess the causes of urban rioting, the same day black militant H. Rap Brown says in Washington that violence is “as American as cherry pie.”

1974: The House Judiciary Committee votes 27-11 to adopt the first of three articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon, charging he has personally engaged in a course of conduct designed to obstruct justice in the Watergate case.

1980: On day 267 of the Iranian hostage crisis, the deposed Shah of Iran dies at a military hospital outside Cairo, Egypt, at age 60.

1996: Terror strikes the Atlanta Olympics as a pipe bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park, directly killing one person and injuring 111. Anti-government extremist Eric Rudolph later pleaded guilty to the bombing.

2003: Comedian Bob Hope dies in Toluca Lake, Calif., at age 100.

VINDICATOR FILES

1988: Taking the stand in her own defense, a tearful Marie Poling tells a Trumbull County grand jury that her husband, whom she is accused of murdering, had been abusive toward her and the couple’s children.

Youngstown Finance Director Gary Kubic sticks to his prediction that 10 to 20 city workers will have to be laid off to make up for the costs of a new labor contract for city employees.

U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. has $38,000 in his campaign fund as he seeks a third term while his Republican opponent, Frederick Lenz, has $278.

Youngstown rises from 212 to 179 of Money magazine’s annual rating of the top 300 places to live.

1973: Dr. James E. Ervin, a former Hillman Junior High and North High School principal, is given a year’s leave of absence from Kent State University, to aid schools throughout Ohio in dealing with educational problems related to desegregation.

John O. Benson is honored for 50 years of activity with North Beaver Grange in Mount Jackson, Pa.

Winning the Cub Scouts’ district Pinewood Derby has become a habit for the Cichonoski brothers of Struthers. Tom, 13,; Perry Jr., 12, and Kenny, 10, have won first and second place for four years.

1963: Mayor Harry Savasten announces free parking downtown on Thursday nights to encourage shoppers.

The Third Infantry Division, which suffered more casualties and had more days of combat than any other U.S. division in World War II, opens its 44th annual national reunion at the Hotel Pick-Ohio. Hugh A. Sweeney of Youngstown, national president, said about 600 veterans are expected.

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society passes a resolution honoring William F. Maag Jr., editor and publisher of The Vindicator and a trustee of the society, on his 80th birthday.

1938: Attorney General Herbert S. Duffy holds that Isadore L. Feuer is not eligible to hold the office of director of the Mahoning County Relief Administrator because he is a candidate for nomination for county auditor.

Gerald L.K. Smith, No. 1 foe of Communism, Fascism and John L. Lewis’ CIO-ism, will speak at Stambaugh Auditorium under the auspices of the “Committee of 1,000,000,” of which he is national chairman.

Ohioans pay more in liquor taxes and profits per capita at $5.97 than any other state except Montana, at $5.99.