Today in History

Today is Tuesday, May 29, the 150th day of 2012. There are 216 days left in the year.

Today's Highlights in History:

On May 29, 1942, the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy," starring James Cagney as George M. Cohan, premiered at a war-bonds benefit in New York. Bing Crosby, the Ken Darby Singers and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra recorded Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" in Los Angeles for Decca Records. Actor John Barrymore died in Hollywood at age 60.

On this date:

In 1765, Patrick Henry denounced the Stamp Act before Virginia's House of Burgesses.

In 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th original colony to ratify the United States Constitution.

In 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state of the union.

In 1912, the ballet "L'Apres-midi d'un Faune" (The Afternoon of a Faun), with music by Claude Debussy, premiered in Paris with Vaslav Nijinsky dancing the title role.

In 1917, the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was born in Brookline, Mass.

In 1932, World War I veterans began arriving in Washington to demand cash bonuses they weren't scheduled to receive until 1945.

In 1943, Norman Rockwell's portrait of "Rosie the Riveter" appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.

In 1953, Mount Everest was conquered as Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tensing Norgay of Nepal became the first climbers to reach the summit.

In 1961, a couple in Paynesville, W.Va., became the first recipients of food stamps under a pilot program created by President John F. Kennedy.

In 1973, Tom Bradley was elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Sam Yorty.

In 1985, 39 people were killed at the European Cup Final in Brussels, Belgium, when rioting broke out and a wall separating British and Italian soccer fans collapsed.

In 1987, a jury in Los Angeles acquitted "Twilight Zone" movie director John Landis and four associates of involuntary manslaughter in the movie-set deaths of actor Vic Morrow and two child actors, seven-year-old Myca Dinh Le and six-year-old Renee Shin-Yi Chen, who were killed by a falling helicopter.

Ten years ago: FBI Director Robert Mueller said there may have been more missed clues before the September 11 terrorist attacks, and suggested for the first time that investigators might have uncovered the plot if they had been more diligent about pursuing leads. Oxana Fedorova of Russia was crowned the 51st Miss Universe in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush ordered new U.S. economic sanctions to pressure Sudan's government to halt the bloodshed in Darfur. Cindy Sheehan, the soldier's mother who'd galvanized an anti-war movement with her monthlong protest outside President Bush's ranch, announced her "resignation" as the public face of the movement. In Hudson Oaks, Texas, Gilberta Estrada, 25, and her four daughters were discovered hanging in a closet in their home in an apparent murder-suicide; Estrada's 8-month-old baby survived.

One year ago: A week after Joplin, Mo., was nearly leveled by the deadliest tornado to strike the U.S in decades, President Barack Obama visited the city to offer hope to survivors and promises of help. J.R. Hildebrand was one turn away from winning the Indianapolis 500 when he skidded high into the wall on the final turn and Dan Wheldon drove past to claim an improbable second Indy 500 win in his first race of the year.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Clifton James is 91. Former Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent is 74. Race car driver Al Unser is 73. CBS News Correspondent Bob Simon is 71. Actor Kevin Conway is 70. Actor Helmut Berger is 68. Rock singer Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) is 67. Actor Anthony Geary is 65. Singer Rebbie Jackson is 62. Movie composer Danny Elfman is 59. Rock musician Michael Porcaro (Toto) is 57. Singer LaToya Jackson is 56. Actor Ted Levine is 55. Actress Annette Bening is 54. Actor Rupert Everett is 53. Actor Adrian Paul is 53. Singer Melissa Etheridge is 51. Actress Lisa Whelchel is 49. Actress Tracey Bregman is 49. Rock musician Noel Gallagher is 45. Singer Jayski McGowan (Quad City DJ's) is 45. Rock musician Chan Kinchla (Blues Traveler) is 43. Rock musician Mark Lee (Third Day) is 39. Cartoonist Aaron McGruder ("The Boondocks") is 38. Singer Melanie Brown (Spice Girls) is 37. Rapper Playa Poncho is 37. Actor Brandon Mychal Smith is 23.

Thought for Today: "What makes us discontented with our condition is the absurdly exaggerated idea we have of the happiness of others." -- French saying.

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.