(Following Advance for Use Sunday, March 2nd)


Today in History

Today is Sunday, March 2nd, the 62nd day of 2008. There are 304 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History: On March 2nd, 1958, a multi-national expedition led by British geologist and explorer Vivian Fuchs completed the first overland crossing of Antarctica by way of the South Pole in 99 days.

On this date: In 1793, the first president of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston, was born near Lexington, Virginia.

In 1836, the Republic of Texas formally declared its independence from Mexico.

In 1877, Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the 1876 presidential election over Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, even though Tilden had won the popular vote.

In 1899, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state was established.

In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship as President Wilson signed the Jones-Shafroth Act.

In 1933, the motion picture "King Kong" had its world premiere in New York.

In 1939, Roman Catholic Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli (puh-CHEL'-ee) was elected Pope on his 63rd birthday; he took the name Pius the 12th.

In 1943, the World War II Battle of the Bismarck Sea began; U.S.

and Australian warplanes were able to inflict heavy damage on a Japanese convoy.

In 1965, the movie version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "The Sound of Music" had its world premiere at New York's Rivoli Theater.

In 1977, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a strict code of ethics.

Ten years ago: The U.N. Security Council unanimously endorsed Secretary-General Kofi Annan's deal to open Iraq's presidential palaces to arms inspectors.

Five years ago: Iraq crushed another six Al Samoud II missiles, as ordered by U.N. weapons inspectors. Landlocked Switzerland became the first European country to win the America's Cup as Alinghi swept Team New Zealand in five races.

One year ago: A charter bus carrying a college baseball team from Bluffton University in Ohio plunged off an Atlanta highway ramp and slammed into the pavement below, killing seven people.

Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey resigned following a scandal over substandard conditions for wounded Iraq soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The bodies of 14 kidnapped policemen were found northeast of Baghdad. Anna Nicole Smith was buried in the Bahamas following a lavish memorial service.

(Stations: Rock musician Casey, one name, is correct) Today's Birthdays: Actress Jennifer Jones is 89. Bluegrass singer-musician Doc Watson is 85. Actor John Cullum is 78. Author Tom Wolfe is 78. Former Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev is 77. Actress Barbara Luna is 69. Actor Jon Finch is 67. Author John Irving is 66. Singer Lou Reed is 66. Actress Cassie Yates is 57.

Actress Laraine Newman is 56. Senator Russell Feingold (Democrat, Wisconsin) is 55. Singer Jay Osmond is 53. Pop musician John Cowsill (The Cowsills) is 52. Tennis player Kevin Curren is 50.

Country singer Larry Stewart (Restless Heart) is 49. Rock singer Jon Bon Jovi is 46. Blues singer-musician Alvin Youngblood Hart is 45. Actor Daniel Craig is 40. Rock musician Casey (Jimmie's Chicken Shack) is 32. Rock singer Chris Martin (Coldplay) is 31. Actress Heather McComb is 31. Actress Bryce Dallas Howard is 27. Actor Robert Iler ("The Sopranos") is 23.

Thought for Today: "Be who you are and say what you feel 'cause people who mind don't matter, and people who matter don't mind." Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka "Dr. Seuss"), American children's author (born this day, 1904; died 1991).

(Above Advance for Use Sunday, March 2nd)


Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 02-25-08 1022CST | save this article / add to your favorites list