April 29th
Today in 1852, the first edition of Peter Roget's Thesaurus was first published.
Today in 1861,the Maryland House of Delegates voted against seceding from Union.
Today in 1945, Adolph Hitler married his mistress Eva Braun. The next day, they committed suicide together in a German bunker.
Today in 1957,the SM-1, America’s first military nuclear power plant,was dedicated at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Today in 1980, legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock died at the age of 80. He was named “The Master of Suspense” and best known for his films: “Psycho” (1960), “Vertigo” (1958), “Rear Window” (1954), and “North by Northwest” (1959).
Today in 1983,Harold Washington was sworn in as Chicago's first black mayor.
Today in 1988, McDonald's announced it would open its first restaurants in Moscow. A number of locations, including the Pushkin Square flagship, were shuttered in 2014 when officials accused the company of “sanitary violations.” But in reality, the colder the relationship between governments, the more trouble for the chain in the country.
Today in 1988, the first condor conceived in captivity was born at San Diego Wild Animal Park.
Today in 1992, what became known as the “L.A. Riots” began after a jury decision to acquit four Los Angeles policemen in the Rodney King beating trial. Rioters beat dozens of motorists, including Reginald Denny (a white truck driver who was dragged out of his truck and nearly beaten to death by a group of black men) and Fidel Lopez (a Guatemalan immigrant, was ripped from his truck, beaten viciously and robbed of nearly $2,000 by the same men that had attacked Denny). In the end, 54 people were killed in three days and more than $1-billion of damage to property was done.
Today in 1993, O.J. Simpson made headlines when he appeared on a British TV talk show and pretended to stab the show’s host with a banana.
Today in 1996, former CIA Director William Colby went missing and was presumed drowned after an apparent boating accident in Maryland. Colby's body was later recovered.
Today in 1997, astronaut Jerry Linenger and cosmonaut Vasily Tsibliyevwent on the first US-Russian space walk.
Today in 1999, the Rev. Jesse Jackson arrived in Belgrade on a mission to win freedom for three American prisoners of war held by Yugoslavia. The men – 21-year-old Steven M. Gonzales, 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew A. Ramirez and 25-year-old Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Stone –were released four days later.
Today in 2000, thousands of angry Cuban-Americans marched peacefully through Miami's Little Havana, protesting the gruesome raid in which armed federal agents yanked six-year-old Elian Gonzalez from the home of relatives.
Today in 2004,Dick Cheney and George W. Bush testified before the 9/11 Commission in a closed,unrecorded hearing in the Oval Office. There was a total of 10 members bipartisan commission while Bush and Cheney spent several hours reviewing information to be brought to the Oval Office. It was confirmed it was not a criminal investigation but for the president at the time and vice president to provide information to the commission about the 9/11 attacks and prior to the attacks.
Today in 2004,Oldsmobile built its final carending 107 years of production.
Today in 2011,the world celebrated the royal wedding of Britain’s Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The wedding took place at Westminster Abbey with about 2,000 guests in attendance. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were cheerfully greeted with half a million supporters watching their kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Today in 2013,Jason Collins an American basketball player for the NBA became the first active player in a major sport to come out as gay in the United States. Collins revealed himself in a Sports Illustrated article and was supported immensely from other players, President Obama and others.
Today in 2015,German Measles was declared eradicated from North and South America– the first world region to do so.
Today in 2018,the animated series "The Simpsons"surpassed "Gunsmoke’s” 635-episode count to have highest episode count of any series on TV.
Today in 2019,“Sports Illustrated’ featured Muslim model Halima Aden in a Burkini for the first time in their swimsuit edition.
Today in 2019,over 700 people infected with measles in the US, marking the highest number for 25 years.