TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is Friday, Nov. 30, the 334th day of 2018. There are 31 days left in the year.

HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY

On Nov. 30, 1874, British statesman Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

• G. Gordon Liddy is 88. • Movie director Ridley Scott is 81. • Movie writer-director Terrence Malick is 75. • Playwright David Mamet is 71. • Actor Mandy Patinkin is 66. • Singer Billy Idol is 63. • Historian Michael Beschloss is 63. • Former professional football and baseball player Bo Jackson is 56. • Actor-director Ben Stiller is 53. • Actress Elisha Cuthbert (“24”) is 36. • Actress Kaley Cuoco (“The Big Band Theory”) is 33. • Model Chrissy Teigen is 33.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“The real problem is what to do with the problem solvers after the problems are solved.” — Gay Talese, American author and journalist.

ON THIS DATE

In 1782, the United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris for ending the Revolutionary War; the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783.

In 1835, Samuel Langhorne Clemens — better known as Mark Twain — was born in Florida, Missouri.

In 1960, the last DeSoto was built by Chrysler, which had decided to retire the brand after 32 years.

In 1981, the United States and the Soviet Union opened negotiations in Geneva aimed at reducing nuclear weapons in Europe.

In 1982, the Michael Jackson album “Thriller” was released by Epic Records.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, which required a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and background checks of prospective buyers.

In 2000, Al Gore’s lawyers battled for his political survival in the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts; meanwhile, GOP lawmakers in Tallahassee moved to award the presidency to George W. Bush in case the courts did not by appointing their own slate of electors.