It’s Monday, March 4, the 63rd day of 2013. There are 302 days left in the year.
History
Highlight: 1913, Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as the 28th president of the United States, succeeding President William Howard Taft.
In 1789, the Constitution of the United States went into effect as the first Federal Congress met in New York. (The lawmakers then adjourned for lack of a quorum.)
In 1791, Vermont became the 14th state.
In 1813, President James Madison was inaugurated for a second term of office.
In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th president of the United States. The U.S. Government Printing Office began operation. The Confederate States of America adopted as its flag the original version of the Stars and Bars.
In 1863, the Idaho Territory was created.
In 1888, legendary college football coach Knute Rockne was born in Voss, Norway.
In 1913, just before leaving office, President William Howard Taft signed legislation replacing the Department of Commerce and Labor with separate Departments of Commerce and Labor. The “Buffalo nickel" officially went into circulation.
In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt took office as America’s 32nd president.
In 1943, “Mrs. Miniver" won six Academy Awards, including best picture and best actress for Greer Garson (whose 5½-minute acceptance speech became the butt of industry jokes). James Cagney won best actor for “Yankee Doodle Dandy."
In 1952, Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis were married in San Fernando Valley, Calif.
In 1963, American poet William Carlos Williams, 79, died in Rutherford, N.J.
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation on the Iran-Contra affair, acknowledging that his overtures to Iran had “deteriorated" into an arms-for-hostages deal.
Ten years ago: The Army’s oldest armored division, “Old Ironsides," got orders to head for the Persian Gulf as the total of U.S. land, sea and air forces arrayed against Iraq or preparing to go neared 300,000.
Five years ago: Republican John McCain clinched his party’s presidential nomination. Democrat Hillary Clinton won primary victories in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island, while Barack Obama prevailed in Vermont. Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre retired after 17 years, saying he was “tired." (Favre later made a comeback with the New York Jets, then the Minnesota Vikings, before retiring again.)
One year ago: President Barack Obama said he didn’t want war but insisted he would attack Iran if that were the only option left to stop that nation from getting a nuclear weapon. Vladimir Putin scored a decisive victory in Russia’s presidential election to return to the Kremlin and extend his hold on power for six more years.
Birthdays
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is 63. Actor Ronn Moss is 61. Musician Emilio Estefan is 60. Actress Catherine O’Hara is 59. Rapper Grand Puba is 47. Gay rights activist Chaz Bono is 44. Jazz musician Jason Marsalis is 36. Actress Jessica Heap is 30. TV personality Whitney Port is 28.
— From wire reports
