Today in History: Sept. 18

On September 18, 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. The north and south wings, central portion and low wooden dome of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., is shown in this illustration circa 1840.  (AP Photo)
In 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. The north and south wings, central portion and low wooden dome of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., is shown in this illustration circa 1840. (AP Photo)
The Joseph Hurlbutt house, built circa.1780 in Wilton , Ct. and shown in this1894 photo, served as a underground railroad depot. Fugitive slaves escaped through the trapdoor in the floor of the living room and a stairway led to a four-by-five-foot tunnel in the basement that ended 50 feet from the house allowing slaves to escape at night undetected. Under the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act, signed into law last month by President Clinton, the National Park Service is authorized tospend $500,000 a year to link the sites of the Underground Railroad into a network and produce educational materials. (AP Photo/Wilton Historical Society, File)
In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which created a force of federal commissioners charged with returning escaped slaves to their owners. The Joseph Hurlbutt house, built circa. 1780 in Wilton , Ct. and shown in this1894 photo, served as a underground railroad depot. Fugitive slaves escaped through the trapdoor in the floor of the living room and a stairway led to a four-by-five-foot tunnel in the basement that ended 50 feet from the house allowing slaves to escape at night undetected. (AP Photo/Wilton Historical Society, File)
On this date in 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold was killed in a plane crash in northern Rhodesia. Hammarskjold is seen here on a visit to Sweden in 1953. (AP Photo)
In 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold was killed in a plane crash in northern Rhodesia. Hammarskjold is seen here on a visit to Sweden in 1953. (AP Photo)
On this date in 1970, rock star Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27. Here, friends of Hendrix carry his coffin from the church after funeral services, Oct. 1, 1970 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
In 1970, rock star Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27. Here, friends of Hendrix carry his coffin from the church after funeral services, Oct. 1, 1970 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
On this date in 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. (AP Photo)
In 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. (AP Photo)
Vitas Gerulaitis holds up his trophy cup after winning the $300,000 Forest Hills Invitational Tournament in Queens, New York, Sunday, July 16, 1978.  Gerulaitis won the $100,000 first prize after defeating his opponent Ilie Nastase, 6-2, 6-0.  (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff)
In 1994, tennis star Vitas Gerulaitis (VEE’-tuhs gehr-uh-LY’-tihs), 40, was found dead in the guest cottage of a friend’s home in Southampton, New York, of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Vitas Gerulaitis holds up his trophy cup after winning the $300,000 Forest Hills Invitational Tournament in Queens, New York, Sunday, July 16, 1978. Gerulaitis won the $100,000 first prize after defeating his opponent Ilie Nastase, 6-2, 6-0. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff)
O.J. Simpson arrives at the Clark County Regional Justice Center on the second day of jury selection for his trial in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008. Simpson faces 12 charges, including felony kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
In 2007, O.J. Simpson was charged with seven felonies, including kidnapping, in the alleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors in a Las Vegas casino-hotel room. (Simpson, sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison, was released on parole in October 2017.) O.J. Simpson arrives at the Clark County Regional Justice Center on the second day of jury selection for his trial in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008. Simpson faces 12 charges, including felony kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
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On September 18, 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. The north and south wings, central portion and low wooden dome of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., is shown in this illustration circa 1840.  (AP Photo)
The Joseph Hurlbutt house, built circa.1780 in Wilton , Ct. and shown in this1894 photo, served as a underground railroad depot. Fugitive slaves escaped through the trapdoor in the floor of the living room and a stairway led to a four-by-five-foot tunnel in the basement that ended 50 feet from the house allowing slaves to escape at night undetected. Under the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act, signed into law last month by President Clinton, the National Park Service is authorized tospend $500,000 a year to link the sites of the Underground Railroad into a network and produce educational materials. (AP Photo/Wilton Historical Society, File)
On this date in 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold was killed in a plane crash in northern Rhodesia. Hammarskjold is seen here on a visit to Sweden in 1953. (AP Photo)
On this date in 1970, rock star Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27. Here, friends of Hendrix carry his coffin from the church after funeral services, Oct. 1, 1970 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
On this date in 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. (AP Photo)
Vitas Gerulaitis holds up his trophy cup after winning the $300,000 Forest Hills Invitational Tournament in Queens, New York, Sunday, July 16, 1978.  Gerulaitis won the $100,000 first prize after defeating his opponent Ilie Nastase, 6-2, 6-0.  (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff)
O.J. Simpson arrives at the Clark County Regional Justice Center on the second day of jury selection for his trial in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008. Simpson faces 12 charges, including felony kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 18, the 261st day of 2019. There are 104 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Sept. 18, 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol.

On this date:

In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which created a force of federal commissioners charged with returning escaped slaves to their owners.

In 1940, Harper and Brothers published “You Can’t Go Home Again” by Thomas Wolfe, two years after the author’s death.

In 1947, the National Security Act, which created a National Military Establishment and the position of Secretary of Defense, went into effect.

In 1959, during his U.S. tour, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited Wall Street, the Empire State Building and the grave of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly, Khrushchev called on all countries to disarm.

In 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold (dahg HAWM’-ahr-shoold) was killed in a plane crash in northern Rhodesia.

In 1964, the situation comedy “The Addams Family,” inspired by the Charles Addams cartoons, premiered on ABC-TV.

In 1970, rock star Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27.

In 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

In 1990, The organized crime drama “GoodFellas,” directed by Martin Scorsese, had its U.S. premiere in New York.

In 1994, tennis star Vitas Gerulaitis (VEE’-tuhs gehr-uh-LY’-tihs), 40, was found dead in the guest cottage of a friend’s home in Southampton, New York, of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

In 2001, a week after the Sept. 11 attack, President George W. Bush said he hoped to “rally the world” in the battle against terrorism and predicted that all “people who love freedom” would join. Letters postmarked Trenton, N.J., that later tested positive for anthrax were sent to the New York Post and NBC anchorman Tom Brokaw.

In 2007, O.J. Simpson was charged with seven felonies, including kidnapping, in the alleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors in a Las Vegas casino-hotel room. (Simpson, sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison, was released on parole in October 2017.)

Ten years ago: Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in defiance of Iran’s Islamic leadership, clashing with police and confronting state-run anti-Israel rallies. Writer-editor Irving Kristol, known as the godfather of neoconservatism, died at 89. The final episode of “Guiding Light” aired on CBS, ending a 72-year run on radio and television.

Five years ago: In a show of solidarity with Ukraine, President Barack Obama welcomed the new president of the embattled former Soviet republic, Petro Poroshenko, to the White House. Congress cleared the way for the U.S. military to train and equip Syrian rebels for a war against Islamic Group militants. Home Depot said a data breach that lasted for months at its stores in the U.S. and Canada had affected 56 million debit and credit cards. Voters in Scotland rejected independence, opting to remain part of the United Kingdom in a historic referendum. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews, Scotland, ended years of male-only exclusivity as its members voted overwhelmingly in favor of inviting women to join.

One year ago: The death toll from Hurricane Florence rose to at least 37 in three states; the victims include two female detainees being taken to a mental health facility in a van that was overtaken by water in South Carolina. China announced tax increases on $60 billion worth of U.S. imports, a day after the U.S. announcement of new tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese-made goods. Russia said a Russian reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by a Syrian missile over the Mediterranean Sea, killing all 15 people on board; the Russians blamed Israel, saying the plane was caught in the crossfire as four Israeli fighters attacked targets in Syria.

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