Published: Monday, March 29, 2010
Today in History
Today is Monday, March 29, the 88th day of 2010. There are 277 days left in the year. The Jewish holiday Passover begins at sunset.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
On March 29, 1973, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.
ON THIS DATE
In 1638, Swedish colonists settled in present-day Delaware.
In 1790, the 10th president of the United States, John Tyler, was born in Charles City County, Va.
In 1792, Sweden’s King Gustav III died nearly two weeks after he had been shot by assasins during a masquerade party.
In 1847, during the Mexican-American War, victorious forces led by Gen. Winfield Scott occupied the city of Veracruz after Mexican defenders capitulated.
In 1867, Britain’s Parliament passed the British North America Act to create the Dominion of Canada.
In 1882, the Knights of Columbus was chartered in Connecticut.
In 1943, World War II rationing of meat, fats and cheese began.
In 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage. (They were executed in June 1953.)
In 1962, Jack Paar hosted NBC’s “Tonight” show for the final time.
In 1971, Army Lt. William L. Calley Jr. was convicted of murdering 22 Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai massacre. (Calley ended up serving three years under house arrest.)
In 2000, President Bill Clinton told a news conference he was appalled when he first learned his campaign had taken illegal foreign donations in 1996, contributions he called both wrong and unneeded. A federal judge ruled that Clinton had “committed a criminal violation of the Privacy Act” by releasing personal letters to undermine the credibility of Kathleen Willey, who’d accused him of an unwelcome sexual advance.
In 2005, as Terri Schiavo entered her 12th full day without food or water, the Rev. Jesse Jackson prayed with her parents and joined conservatives in calling for Florida lawmakers to order her feeding tube reinserted. Attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. died in Los Angeles at age 67.
In 2009, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner resigned under White House pressure. A gunman killed seven residents of the Pinelake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage, N.C., along with a nurse. (Suspect Robert Kenneth Stewart is awaiting trial.) A stampede at a World Cup qualifying soccer match in the Ivory Coast killed at least 22 people and injured 132. Actor Andy Hallett, 33, who’d played good-guy demon Lorne in the TV series “Angel,” died in Los Angeles of heart disease.
Associated Press
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
On March 29, 1973, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.
ON THIS DATE
In 1638, Swedish colonists settled in present-day Delaware.
In 1790, the 10th president of the United States, John Tyler, was born in Charles City County, Va.
In 1792, Sweden’s King Gustav III died nearly two weeks after he had been shot by assasins during a masquerade party.
In 1847, during the Mexican-American War, victorious forces led by Gen. Winfield Scott occupied the city of Veracruz after Mexican defenders capitulated.
In 1867, Britain’s Parliament passed the British North America Act to create the Dominion of Canada.
In 1882, the Knights of Columbus was chartered in Connecticut.
In 1943, World War II rationing of meat, fats and cheese began.
In 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage. (They were executed in June 1953.)
In 1962, Jack Paar hosted NBC’s “Tonight” show for the final time.
In 1971, Army Lt. William L. Calley Jr. was convicted of murdering 22 Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai massacre. (Calley ended up serving three years under house arrest.)
In 2000, President Bill Clinton told a news conference he was appalled when he first learned his campaign had taken illegal foreign donations in 1996, contributions he called both wrong and unneeded. A federal judge ruled that Clinton had “committed a criminal violation of the Privacy Act” by releasing personal letters to undermine the credibility of Kathleen Willey, who’d accused him of an unwelcome sexual advance.
In 2005, as Terri Schiavo entered her 12th full day without food or water, the Rev. Jesse Jackson prayed with her parents and joined conservatives in calling for Florida lawmakers to order her feeding tube reinserted. Attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. died in Los Angeles at age 67.
In 2009, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner resigned under White House pressure. A gunman killed seven residents of the Pinelake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage, N.C., along with a nurse. (Suspect Robert Kenneth Stewart is awaiting trial.) A stampede at a World Cup qualifying soccer match in the Ivory Coast killed at least 22 people and injured 132. Actor Andy Hallett, 33, who’d played good-guy demon Lorne in the TV series “Angel,” died in Los Angeles of heart disease.
Associated Press
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