Today is Saturday, July 26, the 208th day of 2008. There are 158 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On July 26, 1908, U.S. Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte issued an order creating a force of special agents that was a forerunner of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On this date

In 1775, Benjamin Franklin became Postmaster-General.

In 1945, Winston Churchill resigned as Britain’s prime minister after his Conservatives were soundly defeated by the Labour Party. (Clement Attlee became the new prime minister.)

In 1947, President Truman signed the National Security Act.

In 1971, Apollo 15 was launched from Cape Kennedy, Fla.

Ten years ago

The White House said President Clinton’s lawyers were working with prosecutor Kenneth Starr to avert Clinton’s direct testimony to a grand jury about the Monica Lewinsky case. (The president ended up testifying via closed-circuit television.)

Five years ago

Cuba celebrated the 50th anniversary of the start of Fidel Castro’s revolution against Fulgencio Batista.

One year ago

The Senate passed, 85-8, a measure intensifying anti-terrorism efforts in the U.S.

Today’s Birthdays

Actor James Best is 82. Singer Dobie Gray is 68. Actress-singer Darlene Love is 67. Singer Brenton Wood is 67. Rock star Mick Jagger is 65. Actress Helen Mirren is 63. Rock musician Roger Taylor (Queen) is 59. Actress Susan George is 58. Actor Kevin Spacey is 49. Actress Sandra Bullock is 44. Actor Jeremy Piven is 43. Actress Kate Beckinsale is 35.

Thought for Today

“One brave deed makes no hero.” — John Greenleaf Whittier, American poet and essayist (1807-92)