September 19th

The BP oil well that had spilled hundred of millions of oil into the Gulf of Mexico was sealed with a permanent cement plug.

Struggling to stave off financial catastrophe, the Bush administration asked Congress for $700 billion to buy up troubled mortgage-related assets from U.S. financial institutions.

A Military coup overthrows the elected government in Thailand. Forces loyal to General Sonthi Boonyaratglin overthrew the elected government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and dissolved the parliament and the constitution.

Hu Jintao became the undisputed leader of China with the departure of former President Jiang Zemin from his top military post.

President George W. Bush asked Congress for authority to use military force if necessary to disarm and overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein if he did not abandon weapons of mass destruction.

The Pentagon ordered combat aircraft to the Persian Gulf in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The New York Times and The Washington Post published the Unabomber's manifesto.

U.S. troops entered Haiti to enforce the return of exiled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

US Federal health officials announce AZT will be available to AIDS patients.

The Mexico City area was struck by the first of two devastating earthquakes that claimed thousands of lives. The second earthquake hit 36 hours later.

Saint Kitts and Nevis gain their Independence from the British Crown. The first Europeans set foot on the Island country in the West Indies in the late 15th century during an expedition led by Columbus. In 1713, the control over the islands was passed from the French to the British.

Carl XVI Gustaf succeeds his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf as the King of Sweden. Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch is the ceremonial head of state. In 1980, Swedish law was changed to allow the firstborn of a monarch to become the crown's heir apparent, irrespective of their gender.

'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' debuted on CBS.

Gov. Ross Barnett blocked James Meredith from enrolling in the University of Mississippi.

The United States conducted its first underground nuclear test, in the Nevada desert.

President Juan Peron of Argentina was deposed and exiled after a military coup.

The Moscow Armistice ends the Continuation War. The peace treaty was signed between the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and Finland. It put an end to the conflict between the USSR and Finland between 1941 and 1944.

Bruno Hauptmann was arrested in New York and charged with the kidnap-murder of the Lindbergh baby.

New Zealand becomes the first country to grant all women the right to vote.

President James Garfield died of a gunshot wound inflicted by a disappointed office seeker the previous July 2.

Siege of Paris by Prussian Forces begins (lasts until January 28 1871).

American soldiers won the first Battle of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War.

English forces under The Black Prince defeat French at Battle of Poitiers and capture the French King during the Hundred Years War.