Today in History

Today is Monday, April 2, the 92nd day of 2018. There are 273 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On April 2, 1968, "2001: A Space Odyssey," the groundbreaking science-fiction film epic produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood, had its world premiere in Washington, D.C.

On this date:

In 1792, Congress passed the Coinage Act, which authorized establishment of the U.S. Mint.

In 1800, Ludwig van Beethoven premiered his Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21, in Vienna.

In 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and most of his Cabinet fled the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, because of advancing Union forces.

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war against Germany, saying, "The world must be made safe for democracy." (Congress declared war four days later.)

In 1932, aviator Charles A. Lindbergh and John F. Condon went to a cemetery in The Bronx, New York, where Condon turned over $50,000 to a man in exchange for Lindbergh's kidnapped son. (The child, who was not returned, was found dead the following month.)

In 1942, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra recorded "American Patrol" at the RCA Victor studios in Hollywood.

In 1956, the soap operas "As the World Turns" and "The Edge of Night" premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1974, French President Georges Pompidou, 62, died in Paris.

In 1982, several thousand troops from Argentina seized the disputed Falkland Islands, located in the south Atlantic, from Britain. (Britain seized the islands back the following June.)

In 1986, four American passengers, including an 8-month-old girl, her mother and grandmother, were killed when a terrorist bomb exploded aboard a TWA jetliner en route from Rome to Athens, Greece.

In 1992, mob boss John Gotti was convicted in New York of murder and racketeering; he was later sentenced to life, and died in prison.

In 2005, Pope John Paul II died in his Vatican apartment at age 84.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush suffered a diplomatic setback when NATO allies rebuffed his pleas to put former Soviet republics Ukraine and Georgia on the path toward membership. Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland but couldn't survive a scandal over his collection of cash from businessmen, announced he would resign.

Five years ago: North Korea said it would restart its long-shuttered plutonium reactor and increase production of nuclear weapons material in what outsiders saw as its latest attempt to extract U.S. concessions by raising fears of war. Pope Francis prayed before the tomb of Pope John Paul II on the eighth anniversary of the beloved pontiff's death. Irish character actor Milo O'Shea, 86, died in New York.

One year ago: President Donald Trump brought Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to his Virginia golf course to talk health policy with the outspoken critic of the failed plan to repeal and replace so-called "Obamacare." Jason Aldean was named entertainer of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards held in Las Vegas; Miranda Lambert's "The Weight of These Wings" won album of the year, Florida Georgia Line's "H.O.L.Y." won single of the year, and song of the year went to "Die a Happy Man" by Thomas Rhett. A'ja Wilson scored 23 points to help coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina win their first women's NCAA championship with a 67-55 victory over Mississippi State.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Sharon Acker is 83. Actress Dame Penelope Keith is 78. Actress Linda Hunt is 73. Singer Emmylou Harris is 71. Actor Sam Anderson is 71. Social critic and author Camille Paglia is 71. Actress Pamela Reed is 69. Rock musician Dave Robinson (The Cars) is 69. Country singer Buddy Jewell is 57. Actor Christopher Meloni is 57. Singer Keren Woodward (Bananarama) is 57. Country singer Billy Dean is 56. Actor Clark Gregg is 56. Actress Jana Marie Hupp is 54. Rock musician Greg Camp is 51. Rock musician Tony Fredianelli (Third Eye Blind) is 49. Actress Roselyn Sanchez is 45. Country singer Jill King is 43. Actor Pedro Pascal is 43. Actor Adam Rodriguez is 43. Actor Jeremy Garrett is 42. Actor Michael Fassbender is 41. Actress Jaime Ray Newman is 40. Rock musician Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5) is 39. Actress Bethany Joy Galeotti is 37. Singer Lee Dewyze (TV: "American Idol") is 32. Country singer Chris Janson is 32. Actor Drew Van Acker is 32. Actress Briga Heelan (TV: "Great News") is 31. Actor Jesse Plemons is 30. Singer Aaron Kelly (TV: "American Idol") is 25.

Thought for Today: "Failure has a thousand explanations. Success doesn't need one." -- Sir Alec Guinness, British actor (born this date in 1914, died 2000).