Today in History

Today is Sunday, March 29, the 88th day of 2015. There are 277 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On March 29, 1912, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, his doomed expedition stranded in an Antarctic blizzard after failing to be the first to reach the South Pole, wrote the last words of his journal: "For Gods sake look after our people."

On this date:

In 1638, Swedish colonists settled in present-day Delaware.

In 1790, the tenth president of the United States, John Tyler, was born in Charles City County, Virginia.

In 1812, the first White House wedding took place as Lucy Payne Washington, the sister of first lady Dolley Madison, married Supreme Court Justice Thomas Todd.

In 1882, the Knights of Columbus was chartered in Connecticut.

In 1936, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler claimed overwhelming victory in a plebiscite on his policies.

In 1943, World War II rationing of meat, fats and cheese began.

In 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage. (They were executed in June 1953.) The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I" opened on Broadway.

In 1962, Jack Paar hosted NBC's "Tonight" show for the final time, although the network aired a repeat the following night. (Johnny Carson debuted as host the following October.)

In 1971, Army Lt. William L. Calley Jr. was convicted of murdering 22 Vietnamese civilians in the My Lai (mee ly) massacre. (Calley ended up serving three years under house arrest.) A jury in Los Angeles recommended the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female followers for the 1969 Tate-La Bianca murders. (The sentences were later commuted.)

In 1973, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America's direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.

In 1974, eight Ohio National Guardsmen were indicted on federal charges stemming from the shooting deaths of four students at Kent State University. (The charges were later dismissed.) Chinese farmers digging a well discovered the Terracota Warriors, an "army" of sculpted soldiers dating from the third century B.C.

In 1992, Democratic presidential front-runner Bill Clinton acknowledged experimenting with marijuana "a time or two" while attending Oxford University, adding, "I didn't inhale and I didn't try it again."

Ten years ago: As Terri Schiavo entered her 12th full day without food or water, the Rev. Jesse Jackson prayed with her parents and joined conservatives in calling for Florida lawmakers to order her feeding tube reinserted. Attorney Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. died in Los Angeles at age 67. Former U.S. Senator Howell Heflin died in Sheffield, Alabama, at age 83.

Five years ago: Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in twin attacks on Moscow subway stations jam-packed with rush-hour passengers, killing at least 40 people and wounding more than 100. Pop star Ricky Martin confirmed he was gay in bilingual online posts.

One year ago: Two Spanish journalists, Javier Espinosa and Ricardo Garcia Vilanova, were freed after being held captive for six months in Syria by a rogue al-Qaida group. Mao Asada of Japan topped the free skate to capture her third world figure skating title. African Story won the $10 million Dubai World Cup by 2 3/4 lengths in the world's richest horse race.

Today's Birthdays: Political commentator John McLaughlin is 88. Author Judith Guest is 79. Former British Prime Minister Sir John Major is 72. Comedian Eric Idle is 72. Composer Vangelis is 72. Basketball Hall of Famer Walt Frazier is 70. Singer Bobby Kimball (Toto) is 68. Actor Bud Cort is 67. Actor Brendan Gleeson is 60. Actor Christopher Lawford is 60. Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Earl Campbell is 60. Actress Marina Sirtis is 60. International Gymnastics Hall of Famer Kurt Thomas is 59. Actor Christopher Lambert is 58. Rock singer Perry Farrell (Porno for Pyros; Jane's Addiction) is 56. Comedian-actress Amy Sedaris is 54. Model Elle Macpherson is 52. Movie director Michel Hazanavicius is 48. Rock singer-musician John Popper (Blues Traveler) is 48. Actress Lucy Lawless is 47. Country singer Regina Leigh (Regina Regina) is 47. Country singer Brady Seals is 46. Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is 44. CBS News correspondent Lara Logan is 44. Actor Sam Hazeldine (TV: "Resurrection"; Film: "The Monuments Men") is 43. International Tennis Hall of Famer Jennifer Capriati is 39. Actor Chris D'Elia is 35. Pop singer Kelly Sweet is 27.

Thought for Today: "If men could foresee the future, they would still behave as they do now." -- Russian proverb.

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