BLASTS FROM THE PAST
Today’s highlight in history
On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war against Germany, saying: “The world must be made safe for democracy.” (Congress declared war four days later.)
On this date
In 1792, Congress passed the Coinage Act, which authorized establishment of the U.S. Mint.
In 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and most of his cabinet fled the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va., because of advancing Union forces.
In 1956, the soap operas “As the World Turns” and “The Edge of Night” premiered on CBS.
In 1968, “2001: A Space Odyssey,” produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, had its world premiere in Washington, D.C.
In 1982, several thousand troops from Argentina seized the disputed Falkland Islands, located in the south Atlantic, from Britain. (Britain seized the islands back the following June.)
In 1995, after a work stoppage lasting nearly eight months, baseball owners accepted the players’ union offer to play without a contract.
In 2005, Pope John Paul II died in his Vatican apartment at age 84.
Ten years ago: Journalist Jill Carroll arrived in Boston, tearfully embracing her parents and twin sister after 82 days as a hostage in Iraq.
Five years ago: Highly radioactive water leaked into the sea from a crack at Japan’s stricken nuclear power plant.
One year ago: The United States, Iran and five other world powers said they had agreed on an outline of limits on Iran’s nuclear program that would prevent it from developing nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief.