Today is Wednesday, Sept. 23, the 266th day of 2009. There are 99 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History

On Sept. 23, 1952, Sen. Richard Nixon, R-Calif., facing calls to withdraw as Dwight Eisenhower’s running mate, went on television to defend himself against allegations of improper campaign fundraising. The address, which came to be known as the “Checkers” speech because of Nixon’s on-air reference to a dog given to his family as a gift, proved highly successful in rallying public support for keeping Nixon on the GOP ticket.

On this date

In 1806, the Lewis and Clark expedition returned to St. Louis more than two years after setting out for the Pacific Northwest.

In 1846, Neptune was identified as a planet by German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle.

Today’s Birthdays

Actor Mickey Rooney is 89. Singer Julio Iglesias is 66. Rock star Bruce Springsteen is 60. Actor Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) is 50. Singer Ani DiFranco is 39. Recording executive Jermaine Dupri is 37. Actor Kip Pardue is 33. Pop singer Erik-Michael Estrada (“Making the Band”) is 30. Actress Aubrey Dollar is 29. Tennis player Melanie Oudin is 18.

Thought for Today

“The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions.”

— Susan Sontag, American author and critic (1933-2004)