Sunday, May 8

This Day In History

• 1541   Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River.
• 1794   Antoine Lavoisier, the father of modern chemistry, was executed on the guillotine during France's Reign of Terror.
• 1846   The first major battle of the Mexican War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas, resulting in victory for Gen. Zachary Taylor's forces.
• 1884   Harry S Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, was born near Lamar, Mo.
• 1886   Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for Coca-Cola.
• 1944   The first ''eye bank'' was established, in New York City.
• 1945   President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that World War II had ended in Europe. (V-E Day)
• 1958   Vice President Richard Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru.
• 1970   Construction workers broke up an anti-war protest on New York City's Wall Street.
• 1970   The album ''Let It Be'' by the Beatles was released.
• 1978   David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to the ''Son of Sam'' killings.
• 1987   Gary Hart, dogged by questions about his personal life, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
• 1999   The Citadel, South Carolina's formerly all-male military school, graduated its first female cadet.

Happy Birthday To

• 1884   Harry S Truman (33rd U.S. President [1945-1953]; married to Bess Wallace [one daughter: Margaret]; nickname: Give ’em Hell Harry; died Dec 26, 1972)
• 1895   Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (TV clergyman: Life is Worth Living; died Dec 9, 1979)
• 1926   Don Rickles (comedian, actor: CPO Sharkey, Casino, Blazing Saddles, Kelly’s Heroes, Beach Blanket Bingo, The Rat Race)
• 1964   Melissa Gilbert (actress: Little House on the Prairie)