TODAY IN HISTORY

FRIDAY, APRIL 19

1993

The 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound near waco, Texas, ended as fire destroyed the structure after federal agents began smashing their way in; about 80people, including two dozen children and sect leader David Koresh, were killed. Then on the same date in 1995, Timothy Mcveigh, seeking to strike at the government he blamed for the Waco deaths, destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168people. (Mcveigh was convicted of federal murder charges and executed in 2001.)

On this date 1775

The American Revolutionary War began with the battles of Lexington and Concord.

1865

A funeral was held at the White House for President Abraham Lincoln, assassinated five days earlier; his coffin was then taken to the U.S. Capitol for a private memorial service in the Rotunda.

1897

The first Boston Marathon was held; winner John J. Mcdermott ran the course in two hours, 55minutes and 10 seconds.

1912

A special subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee opened hearings in New York into the Titanic disaster.

1943

Duringworldwar II, tens of thousands of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto began a valiant but ultimately futile uprising against Nazi forces.

1977

The Supreme Court, in Ingraham v. Wright, ruled 5-4 that even severe spanking of schoolchildren by faculty members did not violate the Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment.

2005

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was elected pope in the first conclave of the new millennium; he took the name Benedict XVI.

2012

Levon Helm, drummer and singer for The Band, died in New York City at age 71.