September 16th

The federal government announced an emergency $85 billion loan to rescue AIG, the world's largest insurance company.

A deadly shooting in Baghdad involving the U.S. security firm Blackwater USA left 17 Iraqi civilians dead.

Hurricane Ivan plowed into the Gulf Coast with 130 mph wind and a major storm surge. Ivan was blamed for at least 115 deaths, 43 in the United States.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced that Iraq had unconditionally accepted the return of U.N. weapons inspectors.

Apple Computer Inc names co-founder Steve Jobs temporary CEO.

The Montreal Protocol was signed by 25 nations, limiting production of substances that harm the ozone layer. To date, 197 nations have ratified the protocol.

Members of a right-wing Lebanese militia massacre 1500-3000 people in two Beirut-area refugee camps. The killings took over three days in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila and were led by the Lebanese Christian Phalangist militia.

An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale rocks the city of Tabas in Iran. More than 11,000 people were killed during the natural disaster.

Papua New Guinea became independent.

President Gerald R. Ford announced a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft-evaders.

The Metropolitan Opera opened its new home at New York City's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Federation of Malaysia formed by Malaya, Singapore, British North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak.

The United States first adopted peacetime conscription when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act into law.

A bomb explodes on Wall Street, New York killing 38 people. The Wall Street Bombing, as the incident is known, was the deadliest such act on American soil to that date. It is still not known who was responsible for the bombing.

The American Legion was incorporated by an act of Congress.

General Motors Corporation is founded in Flint, Michigan by William C. Durant and Charles Stewart Mott. The company, also known as GM, was one of the world's largest manufacturers of cars and trucks. Most notably, the company manufactured Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Hummer brand cars.

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen discovers the Magnetic South Pole.

Hundreds of thousands of settlers took part in a land run in Oklahoma's "Cherokee Strip.".

The song "Jingle Bells" by James Pierpont was copyrighted under its original title, "One Horse Open Sleigh.".

Slavery abolished in all French territories.

Mexico issues Grito de Dolores, calling for the end of Spanish rule (Mexican Independence Day).

British capture Capetown, South Africa, from the Dutch.

France's King Louis XIV was born.

The Massachusetts village of Shawmut changed its name to Boston.