Today is the 259th day of 2014 and the 88th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1920, the explosion of a bomb on Wall Street killed more than 30 people and injured hundreds of others.

In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act, authorizing the military draft.

In 1955, Argentine president Juan Peron was ousted by a military coup.

In 1974, President Gerald Ford announced a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft evaders.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Jean Arp (1886-1966), artist; H.A. Rey (1898-1977), children's author/illustrator; Lauren Bacall (1924-2014), actress; B.B. King (1925- ), musician; Peter Falk (1927-2011), actor; Ed Begley Jr. (1949- ), actor; Henry Louis Gates Jr. (1950- ), author/academic; Mickey Rourke (1952- ), actor; David Copperfield (1956- ), magician; Molly Shannon (1964- ), actress; Marc Anthony (1968- ), singer-songwriter; Amy Poehler (1971- ), actress; Nick Jonas (1992- ), singer/musician.

TODAY'S FACT: Samuel Rayburn, elected to serve as speaker of the House of Representatives on this day in 1940, was the longest-serving speaker in American history. He served almost 17 (non-consecutive) years (1940-47; 1949-1953; 1955-1961).

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1981, Sugar Ray Leonard unified boxing's middleweight title by knocking out Tommy Hearns in the 14th round of a bout in an outdoor arena at the Caesar's Palace casino in Las Vegas.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Conspiracy theories are an irresistible labor-saving device in the face of complexity." -- Henry Louis Gates Jr.

TODAY'S NUMBER: 16 -- Emmy nominations for Kelsey Grammer's portrayal of the character Frasier Crane on "Cheers," "Wings" and "Frasier," which debuted on this day in 1993. Grammer is the only actor to receive Emmy nominations for portrayals of the same character on three different series.

TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter moon (Sept. 15) and new moon (Sept. 23).

Today is the 258th day of 2014 and the 87th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were enacted in Germany, depriving German Jews of their citizenship and imposing the swastika as a national symbol.

In 1963, a bomb exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young girls.

In 2001, President George W. Bush named Osama bin Laden as the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks and pledged a sustained fight against terrorism.

In 2008, the global financial services firm Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851), author/historian; William Howard Taft (1857-1930), 27th U.S. president/chief justice of the United States; Agatha Christie (1890-1976), author; Roy Acuff (1903-1992), musician; Fay Wray (1907-2004), actress; Merlin Olsen (1940-2010), football player/actor; Tommy Lee Jones (1946- ), actor; Oliver Stone (1946- ), filmmaker; Dan Marino (1961- ), football player; Tom Hardy (1977- ), actor; Prince Harry (1984- ), British royal.

TODAY'S FACT: The first tanks used in battle were deployed by the British during the Battle of the Somme on this day in 1916.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 2004, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the decision to lock out players over contract disputes. The season was eventually canceled.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "All greatness of character is dependent on individuality. The man who has no other existence than that which he partakes in common with all around him, will never have any other than an existence of mediocrity." -- James Fenimore Cooper, "The American Democrat"

TODAY'S NUMBER: 6 -- romance novels written by mystery novelist Agatha Christie under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.

TODAY'S MOON: Last quarter moon (Sept. 15).

Today is the 257th day of 2014 and the 86th day of summer.

TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote "Defence of Fort McHenry," the poem that provided the lyrics for "The Star-Spangled Banner."

In 1901, President William McKinley died of wounds received on Sept. 6 from an assassin's bullet, and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as his successor.

In 1994, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced the cancellation of the remainder of the season after a 34-day player strike.

In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers of an E. coli outbreak originating in bagged spinach.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Clayton Moore (1914-1999), actor; Mario Benedetti (1920-2009), journalist/author; Zoe Caldwell (1933- ), actress; Walter Koenig (1936- ), actor/director/producer; Larry Brown (1940- ), basketball coach; Sam Neill (1947- ), actor; Melissa Leo (1960- ), actress; Faith Ford (1964- ), actress; Andrew Lincoln (1973- ), actor; Nas (1973- ), rapper; Katie Lee (1981- ), chef/TV personality; Amy Winehouse (1983-2011), singer.

TODAY'S FACT: Elizabeth Ann Seton became the first American-born Catholic saint when she was canonized by Pope Paul VI on this day in 1975.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1987, the Toronto Blue Jays hit a major-league record 10 home runs in a single game.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Five minutes are enough to dream a whole life, that is how relative time is." -- Mario Benedetti

TODAY'S NUMBER: 12 -- member states of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including six in the Middle East, four in Africa and two in South America. OPEC was founded on this day in 1960.

TODAY'S MOON: Between full moon (Sept. 8) and last quarter moon (Sept. 15).