TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is Friday, May 8, the 129th day of 2020.

Today’s highlight in history

On May 8, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced on radio that Nazi Germany’s forces had surrendered, and that “the flags of freedom fly all over Europe.”

On this date

In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.

In 1846, the first major battle of the Mexican-american War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas. In 1958, Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by antiamerican protesters in Peru. In 1970, anti-war protests took place across the U.S. and around the world.

In 1973, militant American

Indians who had held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrendered. In 1978, David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder and assault in connection with the “Son of Sam” shootings that claimed six lives and terrified New Yorkers. In 1984, the Soviet Union announced it would boycott the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In 1987, Gary Hart, dogged by questions about his relationship with Miami model Donna

Rice, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Today’s birthdays

Naturalist Sir David Attenborough is 94. Singer Toni Tennille is 80. Actor James Mitchum is 79. Singer Philip Bailey is 69. Musician Alex Van Halen is 67. Sports commentator Bill Cowher is 63. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is 59. Actress Melissa Gilbert is 56. Singer Enrique Iglesias is 45.