Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/194805
2A Daily News – Friday, October 18, 2013 Today in History By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Oct. 18, the 291st day of 2013. There are 74 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Oct. 18, 1962, James D. Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins were honored with the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology for determining the double-helix molecular structure of DNA. On this date: In 1867, the United States took formal possession of Alaska from Russia. In 1892, the first long-distance telephone line between New York and Chicago was officially opened (it could only handle one call at a time). In 1922, the British Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (later the British Broadcasting Corp.) was founded. In 1931, inventor Thomas Alva Edison died in West Orange, N.J., at age 84. In 1944, Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia during World War II. In 1961, the movie musical ''West Side Story,'' starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, premiered in New York, the film's setting. In 1969, the federal government banned artificial sweeteners known as cyclamates because of evidence they caused cancer in laboratory rats. In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act, overriding President Richard M. Nixon's veto. In 1982, former first lady Bess Truman died at her home in Independence, Mo., at age 97. Ten years ago: Pope John Paul II celebrated a Mass at the Vatican marking the 20th anniversary of his election to the papacy. Five years ago: President George W. Bush, speaking at Camp David, said he would host an international summit in response to the global financial crisis, but did not set a date or place for the meeting. Today's Birthdays: Rock-androll performer Chuck Berry is 87. Sportscaster Keith Jackson is 85. Actress Dawn Wells is 75. College and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Mike Ditka is 74. Singer-musician Russ Giguere is 70. Actor Joe Morton is 66. Actress Pam Dawber is 63. Author Terry McMillan is 62.Writer-producer Chuck Lorre is 61. Gospel singer Vickie Winans is 60. Director-screenwriter David Twohy (TOO'-ee) is 58. International Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova is 57. Boxer Thomas Hearns is 55. Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is 53. Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis is 52. Thought for Today:''Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast — you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.'' — Eddie Cantor, American comedian-singer (1892-1964).