Today is Friday, July 18, the 200th day of 2008. There are 166 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On July 18, 1947, President Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act, which placed the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore next in the line of succession after the vice president.

Today’s Birthdays: Former South African President Nelson Mandela is 90.

Thought for Today: “While we read history we make history.” — George William Curtis, American author-editor (1824-1892).

—Associated Press