In 1915, Jess Willard knocked out Jack Johnson in the 26th round of their fight in Havana, Cuba, to claim boxing’s world heavyweight title. (AP Photo)
In 1955, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill resigned his office for health reasons. Democrat Richard J. Daley was first elected mayor of Chicago, defeating Republican Robert E. Merriam. In this file photo, Churchill leaves No. 10 Downing Street at the end of the first meeting of his new cabinet in London. At nearly 77, Churchill became the second-oldest prime minister in British history after the Conservative Party won the 1951 election. His second term as premier was dominated by foreign affairs, notably the break-up of the British Empire. (AP Photo, File)
In 1964, Army General Douglas MacArthur died in Washington, D.C., at age 84. In this photo, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, left, enjoys his fames corncob pipe, meets Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger, commanding General eighth army, right, after General MacArthur’s arrival Aug. 30, 1945 at Atsugi Airport near Tokyo. (AP Photo)
In 1986, two American servicemen and a Turkish woman were killed in the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque, an incident which prompted a U.S. air raid on Libya more than a week later. Here, U.S. ambassador to Bonn, Richard Burt, (4th from left) and Berlin Governing mayor Eberhard Diepgen (next to him with helmet) inspect the remains of the discotheque La Bell, Saturday, April 5, 1986. The discotheque, which is mainly visited by American soldiers, was the site of a heavy bomb explosion that killed two people and injured more than 100. (AP Photo/Klostermaier)
Today is Friday, April 5, the 95th day of 2019.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On April 5, 1986, two American servicemen and a Turkish woman were killed in the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque, an incident which prompted a U.S. air raid on Libya more than a week later.
On this date:
In 1614, Indian Chief Powhatan’s daughter Pocahontas married Englishman John Rolfe, a widower, in the Virginia Colony.
In 1915, Jess Willard knocked out Jack Johnson in the 26th round of their fight in Havana, Cuba, to claim boxing’s world heavyweight title.
In 1955, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill resigned his office for health reasons. Democrat Richard J. Daley was first elected mayor of Chicago, defeating Republican Robert E. Merriam.
In 1964, Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur died in Washington, D.C., at age 84.
In 1974, Stephen King’s first published novel, “Carrie,” was released by Doubleday.
In 1975, nationalist Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek died in Taipei at age 87.
In 1976, reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes died in Houston at age 70.
In 1988, a 15-day hijacking ordeal began as gunmen forced a Kuwait Airways jumbo jet to land in Iran.
In 1991, former Sen. John Tower, R-Texas, his daughter Marian and 21 other people were killed in a commuter plane crash near Brunswick, Georgia.
In 2001, Wang Zhizhi became the first Chinese player to play in the NBA when he took the court for Dallas against Atlanta. (Wang scored six points and grabbed three rebounds as the Mavericks beat the Hawks 108-94.)
In 2005, ABC News anchorman Peter Jennings revealed he had lung cancer (he died in August 2005 at age 67).
In 2008, actor Charlton Heston, big-screen hero and later leader of the National Rifle Association, died in Beverly Hills, California, at age 84.
Ten years ago: North Korea fired a rocket over Japan, defying Washington, Tokyo and others who suspected the launch was a cover for a test of its long-range missile technology. President Barack Obama, visiting Prague, launched an effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons, calling them “the most dangerous legacy of the Cold War.” The Pentagon quietly lifted an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen U.S. service members.
Five years ago: Millions of Afghans defied Taliban threats and rain as they went to the polls to choose President Hamid Karzai’s successor. (Ashraf Ghani emerged the winner.) Breanna Stewart, UConn’s 6-foot-4 sophomore star, was named The Associated Press Player of the Year. Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw was selected coach of the year for the second straight season. Award-winning author and environmentalist Peter Matthiessen, 86, died on Long Island, New York.
One year ago: In his first public comments about Stormy Daniels, President Donald Trump said he didn’t know about the $130,000 payment his personal attorney Michael Cohen had made to the porn actress who alleged she had an affair with Trump. In a dramatic escalation of the trade dispute with China, Trump told the U.S. trade representative to consider slapping an additional $100 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods. A Brazilian judge issued an arrest warrant for former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (loo-EEZ’ ee-NAH’-see-oh LOO’-luh duh SEEL’-vuh) as the once-popular leader tried to mount a political comeback ahead of October elections; da Silva had sought to stay out of prison while he appealed a corruption conviction. A federal immigration raid took 97 people into custody at a Tennessee meat processing plant.
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