Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/224151
2A Daily News – Saturday, December 7, 2013 Today in History By The Associated Press Today is Saturday, Dec. 7, the 341st day of 2013. There are 24 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as part of its plan to conquer Southeast Asian territories; the raid, which claimed some 2,400 American lives, prompted the United States to declare war against Japan the next day. On this date: In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1796, electors chose John Adams to be the second president of the United States. In 1808, electors chose James Madison to be the fourth president of the United States. In 1842, the New York Philharmonic performed its first concert. In 1909, in his State of the Union address, President William Howard Taft defended the decision to base U.S. naval operations in the Pacific at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, instead of in the Philippines. In 1911, China abolished the requirement that men wear their hair in a queue, or ponytail. In 1972, America's last moon mission to date was launched as Apollo 17 blasted off from Cape Canaveral. In 1982, convicted murderer Charlie Brooks Jr. became the first U.S. prisoner to be executed by injection, at a prison in Huntsville, Texas. In 1987, 43 people were killed after a gunman aboard a Pacific Southwest Airlines jetliner in California apparently opened fire on a fellow passenger, the pilots and himself, causing the plane to crash. Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev set foot on American soil for the first time, arriving for a Washington summit with President Ronald Reagan. One year ago: The Supreme Court agreed to consider California's ban on same-sex marriage and a separate dispute about federal benefits for legally-married gay couples. Today's Birthdays: Actor Eli Wallach is 98. Linguist and political philosopher Noam Chomsky is 85. Bluegrass singer Bobby Osborne is 82. Actress Ellen Burstyn is 81. Sen.Thad Cochran, R-Miss., is 76. Broadcast journalist Carole Simpson is 73. Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench is 66. Singer-songwriter Tom Waits is 64. Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, is 61. Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Bird is 57. Actress Priscilla Barnes is 56. Former ''Tonight Show'' announcer Edd (cq) Hall is 55. Actor Jeffrey Wright is 48. Actor C. Thomas Howell is 47. NFL player Terrell Owens is 40. Singer Aaron Carter is 26. Thought for Today: ''War is the unfolding of miscalculations.'' — Barbara Tuchman, American historian (1912-1989). One More Week To Bring In Your Donation Remote w/Q97 December 14th 12 - 2pm Come meet the non-profits For 19 years we have been helping Santa make your Holidays sparkle Let us fill your stockings with 50%off all Jewelry Win an X-Box One See store for details. No purchase necessary Drawing held on December 21st 1 FREE entry & 1 entry for every $20.00 in merchandise purchased Free Santas Work Shop for Kids December 21, 2013 11:00 am 2:00 pm