Today in History: Sept. 5

President Franklin Roosevelt is shown signing the neutrality bill in the White House, Washington on Nov. 4, 1939 making  law this bill which opens American markets to belligerent cash-and-carry purchasers.   The chief executive signed the bill before a gathering of congressional leaders and cabinet members - including Cordell Hull, Secretary of State. Only Roosevelt is shown in image. (AP Photo)
In 1939, four days after war had broken out in Europe, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation declaring U.S. neutrality in the conflict. (AP Photo)
United States Olympic boxer Cassius Clay of Louisville, KY, right, is shown in action during the Olympic bout against Z. Pietrzykowski of Poland in Rome, Italy, September 5, 1960.  Clay outpointed the Pole and won the gold medal in the light heavyweight class for the United States.  (AP Photo)
In 1960, at the Rome Olympics, American boxer Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) defeated Zbigniew Pietrzykowski (zuh-BIG’-nee-ehf pee-eht-chah-KAHF’-skee) of Poland to win the light-heavyweight gold medal; Wilma Rudolph of the United States won the second of her three gold medals with the 200-meter sprint. United States Olympic boxer Cassius Clay of Louisville, KY, right, is shown in action during the Olympic bout against Z. Pietrzykowski of Poland in Rome, Italy, September 5, 1960. Clay outpointed the Pole and won the gold medal in the light heavyweight class for the United States. (AP Photo)
U.S. President John F. Kennedy gestures during a news conference in the State Department auditorium in Washington, August 10, 1961. A record number of newsmen?attended. The chief executive said border patrolmen will be assigned to some airplane to guard against hijacking. The United States space program and operation of the presidency if Kennedy should become incapacitated also are discussed. (AP Photo)
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed legislation making aircraft hijackings a federal crime. U.S. President John F. Kennedy gestures during a news conference in the State Department auditorium in Washington, August 10, 1961. A record number of newsmen?attended. The chief executive said border patrolmen will be assigned to some airplane to guard against hijacking. The United States space program and operation of the presidency if Kennedy should become incapacitated also are discussed. (AP Photo)
FILE - In this Sept. 5, 1972, file photo, a member of the Arab Commando group which seized members of the Israeli Olympic Team at their quarters at the Munich Olympic Village appears with a hood over his face on the balcony of the village building where the commandos held several members of the Israeli team hostage.  (AP Photo/Kurt Strumpf, File)
In 1972, the Palestinian group Black September attacked the Israeli Olympic delegation at the Munich Games; 11 Israelis, five guerrillas and a police officer were killed in the resulting siege. In this Sept. 5, 1972, file photo, a member of Black September, which seized members of the Israeli Olympic Team at their quarters at the Munich Olympic Village, appears with a hood over his face on the balcony of the village building where the commandos held several members of the Israeli team hostage. (AP Photo/Kurt Strumpf, File)
U.S. Secret Service agents put handcuffs on Lynette Fromme after she allegedly pointed a gun at President Gerald Ford as he walked from his hotel to the State Capitol building in Sacramento, Ca., on Sept. 5, 1975.  The agent holding Fromme at center, wearing dark glasses, is Larry Bruendorf.  (AP Photo)
On Sept. 5, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford escaped an attempt on his life by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, in Sacramento, California. U.S. Secret Service agents put handcuffs on Lynette Fromme after she allegedly pointed a gun at President Gerald Ford as he walked from his hotel to the State Capitol building in Sacramento, Ca., on Sept. 5, 1975. The agent holding Fromme at center, wearing dark glasses, is Larry Bruendorf. (AP Photo)
The space shuttle Discovery is reflected in a canal at the Kennedy Space Center as it is towed to the orbital processing facility on Nov. 16, 1984 after successfully completing Mission 51-A with a crew of five.  (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
In 1984, the space shuttle Discovery ended its inaugural flight as it landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The space shuttle Discovery is reflected in a canal at the Kennedy Space Center as it is towed to the orbital processing facility on Nov. 16, 1984 after successfully completing Mission 51-A with a crew of five.   (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
FILE--Pope John Paul II has his arms around Mother Teresa as they greet the faithful in the Popemobile Feb. 3, 1986, just outside the Home for the Dying in Calcutta, India. The Roman Catholic nun whose very name became synonymous with charity for her work with  the poorest of the poor,  has died. She was 87. (AP Photo)
In 1997, Mother Teresa died in Calcutta, India, at age 87; conductor Sir Georg Solti (johrj SHOL’-tee) died in France at age 84. Pope John Paul II has his arms around Mother Teresa as they greet the faithful in the Popemobile Feb. 3, 1986, just outside the Home for the Dying in Calcutta, India. The Roman Catholic nun whose very name became synonymous with charity for her work with the poorest of the poor, has died. She was 87. (AP Photo)
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President Franklin Roosevelt is shown signing the neutrality bill in the White House, Washington on Nov. 4, 1939 making  law this bill which opens American markets to belligerent cash-and-carry purchasers.   The chief executive signed the bill before a gathering of congressional leaders and cabinet members - including Cordell Hull, Secretary of State. Only Roosevelt is shown in image. (AP Photo)
United States Olympic boxer Cassius Clay of Louisville, KY, right, is shown in action during the Olympic bout against Z. Pietrzykowski of Poland in Rome, Italy, September 5, 1960.  Clay outpointed the Pole and won the gold medal in the light heavyweight class for the United States.  (AP Photo)
U.S. President John F. Kennedy gestures during a news conference in the State Department auditorium in Washington, August 10, 1961. A record number of newsmen?attended. The chief executive said border patrolmen will be assigned to some airplane to guard against hijacking. The United States space program and operation of the presidency if Kennedy should become incapacitated also are discussed. (AP Photo)
FILE - In this Sept. 5, 1972, file photo, a member of the Arab Commando group which seized members of the Israeli Olympic Team at their quarters at the Munich Olympic Village appears with a hood over his face on the balcony of the village building where the commandos held several members of the Israeli team hostage.  (AP Photo/Kurt Strumpf, File)
U.S. Secret Service agents put handcuffs on Lynette Fromme after she allegedly pointed a gun at President Gerald Ford as he walked from his hotel to the State Capitol building in Sacramento, Ca., on Sept. 5, 1975.  The agent holding Fromme at center, wearing dark glasses, is Larry Bruendorf.  (AP Photo)
The space shuttle Discovery is reflected in a canal at the Kennedy Space Center as it is towed to the orbital processing facility on Nov. 16, 1984 after successfully completing Mission 51-A with a crew of five.  (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
FILE--Pope John Paul II has his arms around Mother Teresa as they greet the faithful in the Popemobile Feb. 3, 1986, just outside the Home for the Dying in Calcutta, India. The Roman Catholic nun whose very name became synonymous with charity for her work with  the poorest of the poor,  has died. She was 87. (AP Photo)

Today is Thursday, Sept. 5, the 248th day of 2019. There are 117 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Sept. 5, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford escaped an attempt on his life by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson, in Sacramento, California.

On this date:

In 1774, the first Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia.

In 1864, voters in Louisiana approved a new state constitution abolishing slavery.

In 1882, the nation’s first Labor Day was celebrated with a parade in New York. (Although Labor Day now takes place on the first Monday of September, this first celebration occurred on a Tuesday.)

In 1939, four days after war had broken out in Europe, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation declaring U.S. neutrality in the conflict.

In 1960, at the Rome Olympics, American boxer Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) defeated Zbigniew Pietrzykowski (zuh-BIG’-nee-ehf pee-eht-chah-KAHF’-skee) of Poland to win the light-heavyweight gold medal; Wilma Rudolph of the United States won the second of her three gold medals with the 200-meter sprint.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed legislation making aircraft hijackings a federal crime.

In 1972, the Palestinian group Black September attacked the Israeli Olympic delegation at the Munich Games; 11 Israelis, five guerrillas and a police officer were killed in the resulting siege.

In 1984, the space shuttle Discovery ended its inaugural flight as it landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

In 1986, four hijackers who had seized a Pan Am jumbo jet on the ground in Karachi, Pakistan, opened fire when the lights inside the plane failed; a total of 20 people were killed before Pakistani commandos stormed the jetliner.

In 1991, the 35th annual Naval Aviation Symposium held by the Tailhook Association opened in Las Vegas. (The gathering was marred by reports that dozens of people, most of them women, were sexually assaulted or otherwise harassed during the meeting.)

In 1997, breaking the royal reticence over the death of Princess Diana, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II delivered a televised address in which she called her former daughter-in-law “a remarkable person.” Mother Teresa died in Calcutta, India, at age 87; conductor Sir Georg Solti (johrj SHOL’-tee) died in France at age 84.

In 2017, President Donald Trump announced that he was phasing out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program protecting young immigrants who were brought to the country illegally, but said he was giving Congress six months to come up with an alternative. (The Supreme Court is expected to decide by June 2020 whether Trump can terminate the program.) Hurricane Irma strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it approached the northeast Caribbean on a path toward the United States.

Ten years ago: Top finance officials from rich and developing countries agreed during a meeting in London to curb hefty bankers’ bonuses and maintain stimulus measures such as extra government spending and low interest rates to boost the global economy.

Five years ago: The U.S. and 10 of its key allies, meeting in Wales, agreed that the Islamic State group was a significant threat to NATO countries and that they would take on the militants by squeezing their financial resources and going after them with military might. Ukraine, Russia and Kremlin-backed separatists signed a cease-fire after five months of bloodshed. Former CBS News and CNN correspondent Bruce Morton, 83, died in Washington.

One year ago: The New York Times published an opinion piece from an anonymous senior administration official claiming to be part of an internal “resistance” working to thwart President Donald Trump’s “worst inclinations;” Trump responded that if such a “gutless” person exists, “the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to the government at once!” At the second day of his confirmation hearing, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh rejected repeated efforts by Democrats to get him to reveal his views about a president pardoning himself or being forced to testify in a criminal case. Britain charged two men it identified as Russian military intelligence officers with the nerve-agent poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal. Republican Jon Kyl of Arizona was sworn in to fill the Senate seat left open by the death of John McCain.

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