Thursday, October 13, 2005

Spotlight
On October 13, 1981, Egyptians voted to elect Vice President Hosni Mubarak their new president, one week after the assassination of Anwar Sadat. Sadat, who had received a 1978 Nobel Peace Prize for signing a peace agreement with Israel, was assassinated on the eighth anniversary of the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, when Egypt and Syria initiated a surprise attack on Israel. In September 2005, Mubarak won reelection for the fourth time, in Egypt's first presidential election offering more than one candidate.

Quote
"The people gave me the responsibility of building the future of this nation. And I did it with honor." – Hosni Mubarak

Holiday
Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement)

Today in History

• White House: construction began in Washington, DC, under the supervision of architect James Hoban (1792)
• Battle of Queenston Heights: Isaac Brock fell while defending Canada from the Americans (1812)
• WWII: Italy switched sides and declared war on Nazi Germany (1943)

Today's Birthdays

• Lenny Bruce: dark, edgy comedian (1925-1966)
• Margaret Thatcher: British PM (80)
• musicians: Paul Simon (64), Ashanti (25)

Word of the Day
 referendum: a vote by the general public on an issue of state policy; Mubarak won his office in a public referendum.   (© )