TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY IS MONDAY, MARCH 4, the 63rd day of 2013. There are 302 days left in the year. On this date in 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 2012, 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. TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Actress Paula Prentiss is 75. Movie director Adrian Lyne is 72. Singer Bobby Womack is 69. Rock musician Chris Squire (Yes), singer Shakin’ Stevens and author James Ellroy are 65. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is 63. Singer Chris Rea is 62. Actor Ronn Moss is 61. Actress Kay Lenz, musician Emilio Estefan and movie director Scott Hicks are 60. Actress Catherine O’Hara is 59. Actress Patricia Heaton is 55. Actor Steven Weber is 52. Rock musician Jason Newsted is 50. Actress Stacy Edwards is 48. Rock musician Patrick Hannan (The Sundays) is 47. Rock singer Evan Dando (Lemonheads) is 46. Actress Patsy Kensit is 45. Gay rights activist Chaz Bono is 44. Actor Nick Stabile is 43. Rock musician Fergal Lawler (The Cranberries) and country singer Jason Sellers are 42. Jazz musician Jason Marsalis is 36. Actress Jessica Heap is 30. Actress Margo Harshman is 27. Actor Joshua Bowman is 25. Actress Andrea Bowen (“Desperate Housewives”) is 23. Actress Jenna Boyd is 20.