Today in History

Today is Friday, April 1, the 92nd day of 2016. There are 274 days left in the year. This is April Fool's Day.

Today's Highlights in History:

On April 1, 1976, Apple Computer was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. The federally created Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail for short) began operations in the northeastern U.S. (it was taken over in 1999 by CSX and Norfolk Southern).

On this date:

In 1789, the U.S. House of Representatives held its first full meeting in New York; Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania was elected the first House speaker.

In 1891, the Wrigley Co. was founded in Chicago by William Wrigley Jr. (Although the business initially sold soap and baking powder, it became known for its chewing gum.)

In 1924, Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. (Hitler was released in December 1924; during his time behind bars, he wrote his autobiographical screed, "Mein Kampf.")

In 1933, Nazi Germany staged a daylong national boycott of Jewish-owned businesses.

In 1945, American forces launched the amphibious invasion of Okinawa during World War II. (U.S. forces succeeded in capturing the Japanese island on June 22.)

In 1954, the United States Air Force Academy was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In 1962, the Katherine Anne Porter novel "Ship of Fools," an allegory about the rise of Nazism in Germany, was published by Little, Brown & Co.

In 1970, President Richard M. Nixon signed a measure banning cigarette advertising on radio and television, to take effect after Jan. 1, 1971.

In 1972, the first Major League Baseball players' strike began; it lasted 12 days.

In 1984, recording star Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father, Marvin Gay, Sr. in Los Angeles, the day before his 45th birthday. (The elder Gay pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and received probation.)

In 1986, "New Kids on the Block," the group's debut album, was released by Columbia Records.

In 1992, the National Hockey League Players' Association went on its first strike, which lasted 10 days.

Ten years ago: Former hostage Jill Carroll arrived in Germany, where the freelance American journalist strongly disavowed statements she had recorded during her captivity in Iraq and shortly after her release, saying she'd been repeatedly threatened. Two American pilots were killed when their Apache helicopter was shot down near Baghdad.

Five years ago: Afghans angry over the burning of a Quran at a small Florida church stormed a U.N. compound in northern Afghanistan, killing seven foreigners, including four Nepalese guards. Jimmer Fredette was named The Associated Press player of the year after leading the nation in scoring and BYU to one of its best basketball seasons; Notre Dame's Mike Brey was named coach of the year.

One year ago: Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., was charged with accepting nearly $1 million worth of gifts and travel from a longtime friend in exchange for a stream of political favors on the donor's behalf; a defiant Menendez, maintaining his innocence, declared he was "not going anywhere." Eleven former Atlanta public school educators were convicted of racketeering for their role in a cheating scheme to inflate students' scores on standardized exams. California Gov. Jerry Brown ordered officials to impose statewide mandatory water restrictions for the first time in history. Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of John Lennon, died at her home in Spain; she was 75.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Jane Powell is 87. Actress Debbie Reynolds is 84. Actor Don Hastings is 82. Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro is 77. Actress Ali MacGraw is 77. Rhythm-and-blues singer Rudolph Isley is 77. Baseball All-Star Rusty Staub is 72. Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff is 68. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is 66. Rock musician Billy Currie (Ultravox) is 66. Actress Annette O'Toole is 64. Movie director Barry Sonnenfeld is 63. Singer Susan Boyle is 55. Actor Jose Zuniga is 54. Country singer Woody Lee is 48. Actress Jessica Collins is 45. Rapper-actor Method Man is 45. Movie directors Allen and Albert Hughes are 44. Political commentator Rachel Maddow is 43. Tennis player Magdalena Maleeva is 41. Actor David Oyelowo is 40. Actor JJ Field is 38. Singer Bijou Phillips is 36. Actor Sam Huntington is 34. Comedian-actor Taran Killam is 34. Actor Matt Lanter is 33. Actor Josh Zuckerman is 31. Country singer Hillary Scott (Lady Antebellum) is 30. Actor Asa Butterfield is 19.

Thought for Today: "Don't believe everything you read on the Internet." -- Attributed to President Abraham Lincoln.