HISTORY FOR AUGUST 10

This Day in History, August 10 
On August 10th, 1954, the groundbreaking ceremony for Saint Lawrence Seaway was held at Massena, New York. 

Other Notable Events, August 10 
In 1776, a committee of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson suggested the United States adopt "E pluribus unum" -- "Out of many, one" -- as the motto for its Great Seal. 

In 1821, Missouri entered the United States as the 24th state and the first located entirely west of the Mississippi River. 

In 1977, the United States and Panama reached agreement in principle to transfer the Panama Canal to Panama by the year 2000. 

Also in 1977, 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitz was arrested and charged with being the "Son of Sam," the serial killer who terrorized New York City for more than a year, killing six young people and wounding seven others. 

In 1984, Nevada's chief U.S. district judge, Harry Claiborne, was convicted on tax evasion charges. It was the first conviction of a sitting federal judge. 

In 1990, District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry was convicted on one misdemeanor cocaine possession charge and acquitted on another. The jury deadlocked on the 12 other counts and a mistrial was declared. 

In 1991, China agreed in principle to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. 

In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as the U.S. Supreme Court's 107th justice and second female member. 

In 1994, lawyers for U.S. President Bill Clinton sought the dismissal, for the duration of his presidency, of a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against him by a former Arkansas state worker. 

In 1996, Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole selected former congressman, Cabinet secretary and NFL quarterback Jack Kemp as his running mate. 

In 1999, a white supremacist gunman wounded five people, including three children, when he opened fire in the lobby of a Los Angeles Jewish community center. Police said Buford Furrow Jr. killed a letter carrier as he fled, surrendering the next day in Las Vegas. 

In 2001, about 250 people were killed in a train wreck in Albania, caused by a mine set on the tracks by rebels. 

In 2003, more than 80 prisoners tunneled their way out of Brazil's Joao Pessoa prison, one of the nation's top security facilities. 

In 2004, U.S. Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., a former CIA clandestine operative, was nominated by U.S. President George Bush to head the spy agency. 

In 2005, U.S. President George Bush signed a 6-year, $286.4 billion transportation bill to build highways, bridges and other public works and contains also a reported $24 billion in "pork barrel" projects. 

Also in 2005, the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said he supports pre-screening airline passengers and providing them with special identification cards. 

In 2006, Britain and the United States strengthened security after foiling an alleged plot to blow up airplanes flying between the two countries with liquid explosives. Police said as many as 10 aircraft had been targeted. U.S. officials banned the transportation of liquids and gel in carry-on luggage. 

In 2007, the U.S. Federal Reserve put a reported $72 billion into the American financial system over two days to steady the volatile markets that fell in response to losses in the U.S. mortgage market. 

Also in 2007, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution unanimously expanding the United Nation's role in Iraq, focused on helping promote reconciliation and safety of citizens. 


Notable Birthdays for August 10 
Those born on this day include:
- Edmund Jennings Randolph, the first U.S. attorney general, in 1753
- Herbert Hoover, 31st president of the United States, in 1874
- Actor Jack Haley (the Tin Woodsman in The Wizard of Oz ) in 1898
- Actress Norma Shearer in 1902
- Actress Rhonda Fleming in 1923 (age 85)
- Guitar maker Leo Fender in 1909
- Singer Jimmy Dean in 1928 (age 80)
- Singer Eddie Fisher in 1928 (age 80)
- Rock musician Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull in 1947 (age 61)
- Actress Rosanna Arquette in 1959 (age 49)
- Actor Antonio Banderas in 1960 (age 48) 


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