Associated Press
On Sept. 17, 1862, Union forces hurled back a Confederate invasion of Maryland in the Civil War battle of Antietam. With nearly 23,000 killed, wounded and missing or captured, it remains the bloodiest day in U.S. military history.
On this date in:
1787- The U.S. Constitution was completed and signed by a majority of delegates attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
1907- Warren Burger, the 15th chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, was born in St. Paul, Minn.
1920- The American Professional Football Association – a precursor of the National Football League – was formed in Canton, Ohio.
1939- The Soviet Union invaded Poland during World War II.
1947- James V. Forrestal was sworn in as the first U.S. secretary of defense.
1972- The comedy series “M.A.S.H.” premiered on CBS.
1976- NASA unveiled the space shuttle Enterprise.
1980- Former Nicaraguan president Anastasio Somoza was assassinated in Paraguay.
1986- The Senate confirmed the nomination of William H. Rehnquist as the 16th chief justice of the United States.
1996- Former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew died at age 77.
2001- Wall Street trading resumed for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks – its longest shutdown since the Depression; the Dow lost 684.81 points, its worst one-day point drop to date.
2001- Pro sporting events resumed after a six-day hiatus following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
2003- New York Stock Exchange chairman Dick Grasso resigned amid a furor over his $139.5 million pay package.
2004- Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev claimed responsibility for the recent school siege in Beslan and other terrorist attacks in Russia that claimed more than 430 lives.
2004- San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds hit his 700th career home run, joining Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755) as the only players to reach the milestone.
2011- A demonstration calling itself Occupy Wall Street began in New York.
Today’s Birthdays:
Actor Kyle Chandler (“Friday Night Lights”) turns 50 years old today.
Charles Grassley, U.S. senator, R-Iowa, 82
David Souter, Retired Supreme Court justice, 76
Phil Jackson, Basketball coach, 70
Fee Waybill, Rock singer (The Tubes), 65
Cassandra Peterson, Actress (“Elvira, Mistress of the Dark”), 64
Rita Rudner, Comedian, 62
Baz Luhrmann, Director (“Moulin Rouge”), 53
Constantine Maroulis, Singer, actor (“American Idol,” “The Bold and the Beautiful”), 40
Jon Walker, Rock musician (Panic at the Disco), 30
Actor Matthew Settle (“Gossip Girl,” “Band of Brothers”) turns 46 years old today.