February 28, 2005
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Today’s Highlights in History
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On Feb. 28, 1993, a gun battle erupted near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to serve warrants on the Branch Davidians; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began. (Go to article.)
On Feb. 28 ,1901 ,Linus Pauling ,the American Nobel Prize-winning chemist and political activist , was born.Following his death onAug. 19 ,1994 ,his obituary appeared in The Times.(Go to obit. |Other Birthdays)
On February 28, 1880, Harper’s Weekly featured a cartoon about famine relief for Ireland. (See the cartoon and read an explanation.)
On this date in:
1827
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. was incorporated.
1849
The ship California arrived at San Francisco, carrying the first of the gold-seekers.
1854
About 50 slavery opponents met in Ripon, Wis., to call for creation of a new political group, which became the Republican Party.
1861
The Territory of Colorado was organized.
1951
A Senate committee headed by Estes Kefauver, D-Tenn., issued a preliminary report saying at least two major crime syndicates were operating in the United States.
1953
Scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick discovered the double-helix structure of DNA, the molecule that contains the human genes, in a Cambridge University laboratory.
1974
The United States and Egypt re-established diplomatic relations after a seven-year break.
1975
A subway train smashed into the end of a tunnel in London’s Underground, killing more than 40 people.
1983
The album ”War” by U2 was released.
1986
Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot to death in central Stockholm.
1991
Allied and Iraqi forces suspended their attacks as Iraq pledged to accept all United Nations resolutions concerning Kuwait.
2000
Right-wing Austrian leader Joerg Haider resigned as head of the Freedom Party in an apparent bid to end Austria’s international ostracism following his party’s rise to power.
2002
A body found outside San Diego was identified as that of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, who had disappeared from her bedroom about a month earlier; a neighbor was later convicted of her murder and sentenced to death.
Current Birthdays
Bernadette Peters turns 57 years old today.
AP Photo/Jennifer Graylock Actress-singer Bernadette Peters turns 57 years old today.
82
Charles Durning
Actor
74
Gavin MacLeod
Actor (”Love Boat,” ”The Mary Tyler Moore Show”)
74
Dean Smith
Hall-of-fame basketball coach
73
Don Francks
Actor
66
Tommy Tune
Dancer, choreographer
65
Mario Andretti
Auto racer
65
Joe South
Singer
63
Frank Bonner
Actor
61
Kelly Bishop
Actress (”Gilmore Girls”)
60
Bubba Smith
Football player
58
Stephanie Beacham
Actress
57
Mercedes Ruehl
Actress
51
Brian Billick
Football coach
48
John Turturro
Actor
48
Cindy Wilson
Rock singer (B-52s)
44
Rae Dawn Chong
Actress
36
Pat Monahan
Rock singer (Train)
34
Maxine Bahns
Actress
Historic Birthdays
Linus Pauling
2/28/1901 – 8/19/1994
American Nobel Prize-winning chemist
(Go to obit.)
59
Michel de Montaigne
2/28/1533 – 9/23/1592
French writer of essays
71
Gabriele Rossetti
2/28/1783 – 4/24/1854
Italian poet, revolutionary, and scholar
93
Sir John Tenniel
2/28/1820 – 2/25/1914
English illustrator and satirical artist
78
Douglas McGarel Hogg
2/28/1872 – 8/16/1950
English lawyer and politician
85
Geraldine Farrar
2/28/1882 – 3/11/1967
American operatic soprano
70
Ben Hecht
2/28/1894 – 4/18/1964
American novelist, playwright, and newspaperman
83
Vincente Minnelli
2/28/1903 – 7/25/1986
American film and stage director
41
Bugsy Siegel
2/28/1906 – 6/20/1947
American gangster who started Las Vegas gambling
81
Milton Caniff
2/28/1907 – 4/3/1988
American comic-strip artist
86
Sir Stephen Spender
2/28/1909 – 7/16/1995
English poet and critic
82
Denis Parsons Burkitt
2/28/1911 – 3/23/1993
English surgeon and medical researcher
62
Zero Mostel
2/28/1915 – 9/8/1977
American actor, singer, and comedian
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SOURCE: The Associated Press
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