Today is Saturday, Sept. 11, the 255th day of 2004. There are 111 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Sept. 11, 2001, in the worst single act of terrorism committed on U.S. soil, two hijacked jetliners crashed into New York’s World Trade Center, causing the twin towers to fall and killing nearly 2,800 people; a commandeered jetliner smashed into the Pentagon, claiming 189 lives; and a fourth hijacked plane with 44 people aboard crashed in western Pennsylvania.

On this date:

In 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

In 1814, an American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.

In 1936, President Roosevelt dedicated Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) by pressing a key in Washington to signal the startup of the dam’s first hydroelectric generator in Nevada.

In 1941, Charles A. Lindbergh sparked charges of anti-Semitism with a speech in which he said “the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt administration” were trying to draw the United States into World War II.

In 1944, President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in Canada at the second Quebec Conference.

In 1954, 50 years ago, the Miss America pageant made its network TV debut on ABC; Miss California, Lee Ann Meriwether, was crowned the winner.

In 1971, former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev died at age 77.

In 1972, the troubled Munich Summer Olympics ended.

In 1973, Chilean President Salvador Allende died in a violent military coup.

In 1974, an Eastern Airlines DC-9 crashed during a landing attempt in Charlotte, N.C., killing 71 of the people on board.

Ten years ago: Actress Jessica Tandy died in Easton, Conn., at age 85. At the 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, “Frasier” won best comedy series while “Picket Fences” was named best drama series. Andre Agassi won the men’s championship at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, defeating Michael Stich.

Five years ago: President Clinton, attending a conference of Asia-Pacific leaders in New Zealand, demanded that Indonesia allow an international force to restore peace in East Timor. Eric Milton pitched a no-hitter for the Minnesota Twins in their 7-0 win over the Anaheim Angels. Serena Williams won the U.S. Open women’s title, beating top-seeded Martina Hingis, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

One year ago: Israel issued an ominous threat to “remove” Yasser Arafat for failing to halt suicide bombings. Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh died from stab wounds inflicted when she was attacked in a Stockholm department store a day earlier. Actor John Ritter died in Los Angeles at age 54.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Betsy Drake is 81. Actor Earl Holliman is 76. Movie director Brian De Palma is 64. Rock musician Mickey Hart (The Dead) is 61. Singer-musician Leo Kottke is 59. Rock singer-musician Tommy Shaw (Styx) is 51. Actor Reed Birney is 50. Musician Jon Moss (Culture Club) is 47. Actor Scott Patterson is 46. Rock musician Mick Talbot (The Style Council) is 46. Actress Kristy McNichol is 42. Actress Virginia Madsen is 41. Actress Roxann Dawson is 40. Musician-composer Moby is 39. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 37. Rock musician Bart Van Der Zeeluw is 36. Actress Laura Wright is 34. Rock musician Jeremy Popoff (Lit) is 33. Singer Brad Fischetti (LFO) is 29. Rapper Mr. Black is 27. Rock musician Jon Buckland (Coldplay) is 27. Rapper Ludacris is 27. Actor Ryan Slattery is 26. Actor Tyler Hoechlin is 17.

Thought for Today: “There would never be a moment, in war or in peace, when I wouldn’t trade all the patriots in the country for one tolerant man. Or when I wouldn’t swap the vitamins in a child’s lunchbox for a jelly glass of magnanimity.” – E.B. White, American author and humorist (1899-1985).