NEA DATEBOOK

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1806, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began their return trip east after reaching the Pacific coast.

In 1956, Pakistan became the first Islamic republic.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proposed the “Star Wars” plan for the development of missile-intercepting technology.

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Joan Crawford (1908-1977), actress; Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998), filmmaker; Roger Bannister (1929-2018), athlete/physician; Ric Ocasek (1944-2019), singer-songwriter; Ron Jaworski (1951- ), football player/sportscaster; Chaka Khan (1953- ), singer-songwriter; Kenneth Cole (1954- ), fashion designer; Moses Malone (1955-2015), basketball player; Michelle Monaghan (1976- ), actress; Keri Russell (1976- ), actress; Kyrie Irving (1992- ), basketball player; Vanessa Morgan (1992- ), actress.

TODAY’S FACT: The Russian space station Mir was pulled out of orbit on this day in 2001. Although it reentered the atmosphere over Fiji, most of the debris burned up during the descent.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1994, Wayne Gretzky of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings scored the 802nd goal of his career, breaking the record then held by Gordie Howe.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Movie directors ... are very greedy and they can never be satisfied ... That’s why they can keep on working. I’ve been able to work for so long because I think next time, I’ll make something good.” — Akira Kurosawa

TODAY’S NUMBER: $15 million — estimated daily loss of revenue for the Suez Canal Authority during the six days that the cargo ship Ever Given was stuck in the canal in March 2021, blocking all ships from passing through.

TODAY’S MOON: Between first quarter moon (March 16) and full moon (March 25).