In 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized by Joseph Smith in Fayette, New York. In this 1956 photo, the Temple of Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints is seen West Los Angeles, California. (AP Photo/Hal Filan)
In 1896, the first modern Olympic games formally opened in Athens, Greece. Here, members of the athletics team of the US Princeton University pose at the first modern International Summer Olympic Games held at the Panathinaiko Stadium. From left to right: Francis A. Lane, Herbert Jamison, Robert Garrett and Albert Tyler. (AP Photo)
In 1909, American explorers Robert E. Peary (shown in the photo above) and Matthew A. Henson and four Inuits became the first men to reach the North Pole. (Photo © Robert E. Peary Collection, NGS)
In 1954, a month after being criticized by newsman Edward R. Murrow on CBS’ “See It Now,” Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., was given the chance to respond on the program; in his pre-filmed remarks, McCarthy charged that Murrow had, in the past, “engaged in propaganda for Communist causes.” In this photo, William Buckley, Jr. shown at his Stamford, Ct. home, said he accepted McCarthy’s invitation to reply for him to criticism by Murrow. Buckley, 28-year-old graduate of Yale University, class of 1950, said he had no further information on whether the CBS network, over which Murrow broadcasts, would accept him as McCarthy’s spokesman. (AP Photo/Arnold Walter)
In 2014, actor Mickey Rooney, 93, died in North Hollywood. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Today is Saturday, April 6, the 96th day of 2019.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On April 6, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized by Joseph Smith in Fayette, New York.
On this date:
In 1862, the Civil War Battle of Shiloh began in Tennessee as Confederate forces launched a surprise attack against Union troops, who beat back the Confederates the next day.
In 1896, the first modern Olympic games formally opened in Athens, Greece.
In 1909, American explorers Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson and four Inuits became the first men to reach the North Pole.
In 1917, the United States entered World War I as the House joined the Senate in approving a declaration of war against Germany that was then signed by President Woodrow Wilson.
In 1945, during World War II, the Japanese warship Yamato and nine other vessels sailed on a suicide mission to attack the U.S. fleet off Okinawa; the fleet was intercepted the next day.
In 1954, Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., responding to CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow’s broadside against him on “See It Now,” said in remarks filmed for the program that Murrow had, in the past, “engaged in propaganda for Communist causes.”
In 1965, the United States launched Intelsat I, also known as the “Early Bird” communications satellite, into geosynchronous orbit.
In 1968, 41 people were killed by two consecutive natural gas explosions at a sporting goods store in downtown Richmond, Indiana.
In 1971, Russian-born composer Igor Stravinsky, 88, died in New York City.
In 1973, Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became Major League Baseball’s first designated hitter as he faced pitcher Luis Tiant of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway. (Blomberg was walked with the bases loaded; Boston won the game, 15-5.)
In 1994, Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun announced his retirement after 24 years.
In 1998, the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 9,000 points for the first time, ending the day at 9,033.23. Country singer Tammy Wynette died at her Nashville home at age 55.
Ten years ago: An earthquake in central Italy killed some 300 people in the country’s deadliest quake in nearly three decades. President Barack Obama paid tribute to the memory of modern Turkey’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during a visit to Ankara; delivering a speech to the Turkish Parliament, Obama declared the U.S. “is not and never will be at war with Islam.” Michael Jordan, along with former Dream Team teammates David Robinson and John Stockton, were elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame; Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women’s coach C. Vivian Stringer were also part of a class. North Carolina won the NCAA championship, ending Michigan State’s inspirational run with a 89-72 rout.
Five years ago: Legendary Hollywood actor Mickey Rooney, 93, died in North Hollywood. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivered a two-pronged warning to Asia Pacific nations, announcing in Tokyo that the U.S. would send two additional ballistic missile destroyers to Japan to counter the North Korean threat, and saying China had better respect its neighbors.
One year ago: Texas Republican congressman Blake Farenthold abruptly resigned, four months after announcing he wouldn’t seek re-election amid sexual harassment allegations. Thousands of Palestinians protested along Gaza’s sealed border with Israel; Israeli troops opened fire from across the border, and Gaza health officials said at least nine Palestinians were killed. Former Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii died in Honolulu at the age of 93. Federal law enforcement authorities seized online classified site Backpage.com and its affiliated websites known for listing adult escort services. A South Korean court sentenced former President Park Geun-hye to 24 years in prison on charges including bribery and extortion stemming from a corruption scandal that removed her from office a year earlier. A transport truck collided with a bus carrying a junior hockey team in western Canada, killing 16 people on the bus.
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