Slideshow: Today In History, Mar. 27
Today is Friday, March 27.
Today's Highlight in History:
1912: Cherry Trees
In 1912, first lady Helen Herron Taft and the wife of Japan's ambassador to the United States, Viscountess Chinda, planted in Washington the first two of 3,000 cherry trees given as a gift by the mayor of Tokyo.
1933: League of Nations
In 1933, Japan officially withdrew from the League of Nations.
1958: Nikita Khrushchev
In 1958, Nikita Khrushchev became Soviet premier in addition to First Secretary of the Communist Party.
1964: Alaskan Earthquake
In 1964, Alaska was hit by a magnitude 9.2 earthquake (the strongest on record in North America) and tsunamis that together claimed about 130 lives.
1945: Dwight D. Eisenhower
On March 27, 1945, during World War II, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower told reporters in Paris that Germany's main defensive line on the Western Front had been broken.
1977: Air Disaster
In 1977, 583 people were killed when a KLM Boeing 747, attempting to take off, crashed into a Pan Am 747 on the Canary Island of Tenerife (ten-uh-REEF').
1980: Alexander Kielland
In 1980, 123 workers died when a North Sea floating oil field platform, the Alexander Kielland, capsized during a storm.
1995: Academy Awards
In 1995, "Forrest Gump" won six Academy Awards, including best picture and a second consecutive best actor Oscar for Tom Hanks; Jessica Lange won best actress for "Blue Sky."
2005: Pope John Paul II
Ten years ago: Pope John Paul II delivered an Easter Sunday blessing to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, but the ailing pontiff was unable to speak and managed only to greet the saddened crowd with a sign of the cross.
2010: Earth Hour
Five years ago: Lights were switched off across the world from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time to mark Earth Hour, an event organized by the World Wildlife Fund to highlight concerns about global warming.
2010: World Figure Skating Championships
Five years ago: Mao Asada of Japan beat Olympic champion Yuna Kim of South Korea to win her second title at the World Figure Skating Championships, held in Turin, Italy.
2014: Barack Obama & Pope Francis
One year ago: Face to face at the Vatican for the first time, President Barack Obama and Pope Francis focused on their mutual respect and shared concern for the poor.
2014: James Schlesinger
One year ago: James Schlesinger, 85, who'd held a long string of Cabinet and other high-level positions in three U.S. administrations, died in Baltimore.
1975: Trans-Alaska Pipeline
In 1975, construction began on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which was completed two years later.
Birthday: Michael York
Actor Michael York is 73.
Birthday: Pauley Perrette
Actress Pauley Perrette is 46.
Birthday: Quentin Tarantino
Movie director Quentin Tarantino is 52.
Birthday: Arthur Mitchell
Dance company director Arthur Mitchell is 81.
Birthday: Cale Yarborough
Hall of Fame racer Cale Yarborough is 76.
Dave Koz
Jazz sax man brings Christmas tour to Fox.Â
Birthday: Mariah Carey
Singer Mariah Carey is 45.
Birthday: Nathan Fillion
Actor Nathan Fillion is 44.
Birthday: Elizabeth Mitchell
Actress Elizabeth Mitchell is 45.
Birthday: Fergie
Hip-hop singer Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) is 40.
Birthday: Kimbra
Pop singer/songwriter Kimbra is 25.
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