TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is Sunday, April 3, 2022.

Today’s highlight in history

On April 3, 1973, the first handheld portable telephone was demonstrated for reporters in New York City as Motorola executive Martin Cooper called Joel S. Engel of Bell Labs.

On this date

In 1882,

outlaw Jesse James was shot to death by Robert Ford, a member of James’ gang.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Marshall Plan, designed to help European allies rebuild after World War II and resist communism.

In 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered what turned out to be his final speech, telling a rally in Memphis, Tenn., that “I’ve been to the mountaintop” and “seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you.

But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!”

In 1974, deadly tornadoes began hitting wide parts of the South and Midwest before jumping into Canada; more than 300 fatalities resulted.

In 1996, Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski was arrested.

Today’s birthdays

Conservationist Dame Jane Goodall is 88. Actor William Gaunt is 85. Songwriter Jeff Barry is 84. Actor Eric Braeden is 81. Actor Marsha Mason is 80.

Singer Wayne Newton is 80. Singer Tony Orlando is 78. Musician Mick Mars (Motley Crue) is 66. Actor Alec Baldwin is 64. Actor David Hyde Pierce is

63. Actor Eddie Murphy is 61. Singer Mike Ness (Social Distortion) is 60. Singer Sebastian Bach is 54. Ski racer Picabo Street is 51. Actor Jennie Garth is 50. Actor Adam Scott is 49. Musician Drew Shirley (Switchfoot) is 48. Actor Cobie Smulders is 40. Singer Leona Lewis is

37. Actor Amanda Bynes is 36. Actor Rachel Bloom is 35.