Today is Thursday, Oct. 1, the 274th day of 2009. There are 91 days left in the year.

Todays Highlight in History

On Oct. 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the Peoples Republic of China during a ceremony in Beijing.

On this date

In 1800, Spain ceded Louisiana to France in a secret treaty.

In 1908, Henry Ford introduced his Model T automobile to the market.

In 1936, Gen. Francisco Franco was proclaimed the head of an insurgent Spanish state.

In 1939, Winston Churchill, recently appointed First Lord of the Admiralty by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, described Russia as a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma during a radio address on the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

In 1949, a 42-day strike by the United Steelworkers of America began over the issue of retirement benefits.

In 1961, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit his 61st home run during a 162-game season, compared to Babe Ruths 60 home runs during a 154-game season.

In 1964, the Free Speech Movement was launched at the University of California at Berkeley.

In 1971, Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Fla.

In 1979, Nigerias military rulers handed over power to a civilian government.

In 1987, eight people were killed when an earthquake measuring magnitude 5.9 struck the Los Angeles area.

Ten years ago

South Korean activists thanked the U.S. government for promising to investigate an Associated Press report that U.S. forces had killed refugees at the start of the Korean War, but also demanded the U.S. punish some of the veterans involved and compensate the victims relatives.

Five years ago

Mount St. Helens in Washington state erupted for the first time in 18 years, but without nearly the force of the 1980 disaster. Police found Lori Hackings body in a landfill after picking through the trash for weeks in a search for the young Utah woman murdered by her husband, Mark. Fashion photographer Richard Avedon died in San Antonio at age 81.

One year ago

After one spectacular failure in the House, the $700 billion financial industry bailout won lopsided passage in the Senate, 74-25, after it was loaded with tax breaks and other sweeteners. Nick Reynolds, a founding member of the Kingston Trio, died in San Diego at age 75. TV actor House Peters Jr., the original Mr. Clean, died in Los Angeles at age 92.

Todays Birthdays

Former President Jimmy Carter is 85. Pianist Roger Williams is 85. Actor Tom Bosley is 82. Actress-singer Julie Andrews is 74. Actress Stella Stevens is 71. Rock musician Jerry Martini (Sly and the Family Stone) is 66. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Rod Carew is 64. Jazz musician Dave Holland is 63. Actor Stephen Collins is 62. Actor Randy Quaid is 59. Marathon runner Grete Waitz is 56. Retired MLB All-Star Jeff Reardon is 54. Rhythm-and-blues singer Howard Hewett is 54. Actress Yvette Freeman is 52. Alt-country-rock musician Tim OReagan (The Jayhawks) is 51. Singer Youssou NDour is 50. Actor Esai Morales is 47. Retired MLB All-Star Mark McGwire is 46. Actor Christopher Titus is 45. Actress-model Cindy Margolis is 44. Rock singer-musician Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra) is 41. Actor Zach Galifianakis is 40. Singer Keith Duffy is 35. NFL player Ryan Pontbriand is 30. Actress Jurnee Smollett is 23. Actress Brie Larson is 20.

Thought for Today

Just think of the tragedy of teaching children not to doubt.

Clarence Darrow, American lawyer (1857-1938)