Today is Thursday, March 26, the 85th day of 2009. There are 280 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On March 26, 1979, a peace treaty was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

On this date

In 1804, the Louisiana Purchase was divided into the Territory of Orleans and the District of Louisiana.

In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna.

In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first U.S. team to win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Montreal Canadiens.

In 1958, the U.S. Army launched America’s third successful satellite, Explorer 3.

In 1959, American author Raymond Chandler died in La Jolla, Calif., at age 70.

In 1971, East Pakistan proclaimed its independence, taking the name Bangladesh.

In 1982, groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

In 1997, the bodies of 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate techno-religious cult who’d committed suicide were found inside a rented mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Ten years ago

Jack Kevorkian was convicted in Pontiac, Mich., of second-degree murder for giving a lethal injection to a patient with Lou Gehrig’s disease, an action videotaped and broadcast on CBS’ “60 Minutes.” (Kevorkian served eight years in prison.)

Today’s Birthdays

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is 79. Actor-director Leonard Nimoy is 78. Actor Alan Arkin is 75. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 69. Actor James Caan is 69. Author Erica Jong is 67. Journalist Bob Woodward is 66. Singer Diana Ross is 65. Rock singer Steven Tyler is 61. Singer and TV personality Vicki Lawrence is 60. Singer Teddy Pendergrass is 59. Comedian Martin Short is 59. TV personality Leeza Gibbons is 52. Actress Jennifer Grey is 49. Retired Utah Jazz great John Stockton is 47. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 41. Actor T.R. Knight is 36. Actress Keira Knightley is 24.

Thought for Today

“Life is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to write a masterpiece.”

— Nadia Boulanger, French music teacher (1887-1979)