TODAY IN HISTORY

1859 The opera Faust by Charles Gounod premiered in Paris.

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). Adolf Hitler ordered the destruction of German facilities that could fall into Allied hands in his so-called “Nero Decree,” which was largely disregarded.

1977 The series finale of Mary Tyler Moore aired on CBS-TV, ending the situation comedy’s seven-season run.

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.

1991 Polish President Lech

Walesa arrived in Washington for his first state visit to the United States.

1995 After a 21-month hiatus, Michael Jordan returned to professional basketball with his former team, the Chicago Bulls.

1997 Artist Willem de Kooning, considered one of the 20th century’s greatest painters, died in East Hampton, N.Y., at age 92.

2003 President George W. Bush ordered the start of war against Iraq. (Because of the time difference, it was early March 20 in Iraq.)

2007 A methane gas explosion in a Siberian coal mine killed 110 workers.

2013 Pope Francis officially began his ministry as the 266th pope, receiving the ring symbolizing the papacy and a wool stole exemplifying his role as shepherd of his 1.2-billion strong flock during a Mass at the Vatican . ... Insurgents carried out a wave of bombings across Iraq that killed at least 65 people.