Today is Sunday, Sept. 21, the 264th day of 1997. There are 101 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:On Sept. 21, 1897, the New York Sun ran its famous editorial that answered a question from 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon: "Is there a Santa Claus?"
Francis P. Church wrote, in part: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy."
On this date:
In 1792, the French National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy.
In 1931, Britain went off the gold standard.
In 1937, "The Hobbit," by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published.
In 1938, a hurricane struck parts of New York and New England, causing widespread damage and claiming more than 600 lives.
In 1949, the People's Republic of China was proclaimed by its Communist leaders.
In 1957, "Perry Mason," starring Raymond Burr, premiered on CBS-TV.
In 1964, Malta gained independence from Britain.
In 1977, after weeks of controversy over past business and banking practices, President Carter's embattled budget director, Bert Lance, resigned.
In 1982, National Football League players began a 57-day strike, their first regular-season walkout ever.
Ten years ago: A U.S. helicopter gunship disabled an Iranian vessel, the "Iran Ajr," that was caught laying mines in the Persian Gulf; four Iranian crewmen were killed, 26 wounded and detained. NFL players went on strike, mainly over the issue of free agency.
Five years ago: President Bush addressed the U.N. General Assembly, offering U.S. support to strengthen international peacekeeping. Former defense secretaries Melvin Laird and James R. Schlesinger told a congressional committee the Pentagon had known American airmen were alive in Laos at the end of the Vietnam War and were not returned.
One year ago: John F. Kennedy Jr. married Carolyn Bessette in a secret ceremony on Cumberland Island, Ga. The board of all-male Virginia Military Institute voted to admit women. President Clinton and Republican rival Bob Dole agreed to face off in two debates without Ross Perot.
Today's Birthdays: Cartoon animator Chuck Jones is 85. Actor Larry Hagman is 66. Poet-songwriter Leonard Cohen is 63. Actor-comedian Henry Gibson is 62. Author-comedian Fannie Flagg is 53. Author Stephen King is 50. Musician Don Felder (The Eagles) is 50. Actor-comedian Bill Murray is 47. Rock musician Philthy Animal (Motorhead) is 43. Movie producer-writer Ethan Coen ("Fargo") is 39. Actor David James Elliott ("JAG") is 37. Actress Nancy Travis ("Almost Perfect") is 36. Actor Rob Morrow is 35. Country singer Faith Hill is 30. Rock musician Tyler Stewart (Barenaked Ladies) is 30. Actress-talk show host Ricki Lake is 29. Rapper Trugoy the Dove (De La Soul) is 29. Actor Alfonso Ribeiro ("The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "In the House") is 26.
Thought for Today: "I found more joy in sorrow / Than you could find in joy." - Sara Teasdale, American author and poet (1884-1933).