TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Sunday, March 19, the 78th day of 2017. There are 287 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History
On March 19, 1917, a divided U.S. Supreme Court, in Wilson v. New, upheld 5-4 the eighthour work day for interstate railroad workers.
On this date
1863 — The Confederate cruiser Georgiana, was scuttled off Charleston, South Carolina, on its maiden voyage to prevent it from falling into Union hands. 1920 — The Senate rejected, for a second time, the Treaty of Versailles by a vote of 49 in favor, 35 against, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for approval. 1931 — Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure legalizing casino gambling. 1942 — During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered men between the ages of 45 and 64, inclusive, to register for non-military duty. 1945 — During World War II, 724 people were killed when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier USS Franklin off Japan. (The ship was saved.) 1965 — The wreck of the Confederate cruiser Georgiana was discovered by E. Lee Spence, 102 years to the day after it was scuttled. 1979 — The U.S. House of Representatives began televising its floor proceedings; the live feed was carried by C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network), which was making its debut. 1987 — Televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as chairman of his PTL ministry organization amid a sex and money scandal involving Jessica Hahn, a former church secretary. 1990 — Rome began to clean up after the sixthworst flood in area history. 2003 — President George W. Bush ordered the start of war against Iraq. (Because of the time difference, it was early March 20 in Iraq.)
Today’s Birthdays
Author Philip Roth is 84. Actress Ursula Andress is 81. Singer Clarence “Frogman” Henry is 80. Singer Ruth Pointer (The Pointer Sisters) is 71. Actress Glenn Close is 70. Film producer Harvey Weinstein is 65. Actor Bruce Willis is 62. Playwright Neil LaBute is 54. Rock musician Gert Bettens (K’s Choice) is 47. Actress Abby Brammell is 38. Actor Philip Bolden is 22.