This day in history         

[May 29, 2007]  (AP) Today is Tuesday, May 29, the 149th day of 2007. There are 216 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On May 29, 1765, Patrick Henry denounced the Stamp Act before Virginia's House of Burgesses. Responding to a cry of "Treason!" Henry declared, "If this be treason, make the most of it!"

On this date:

In 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th original colony to ratify the U.S. States Constitution.

In 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state of the union.

In 1903, comedian Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in London.

In 1917, the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was born in Brookline, Mass.

In 1932, World War I veterans began arriving in Washington to demand cash bonuses they weren't scheduled to receive until 1945.

In 1953, Mount Everest was conquered as Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tensing Norkay of Nepal became the first climbers to reach the summit.

In 1957, 50 years ago, British-born Hollywood director James Whale ("Frankenstein") was found dead in his swimming pool, a suicide; he was 67.

In 1987, a jury in Los Angeles found "Twilight Zone" director John Landis and four associates innocent of involuntary manslaughter in the movie-set deaths of actor Vic Morrow and two children, Myca Dinh Le, 7, and Renee Chen, 6.

In 1995, Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both the House and the Senate, died in Skowhegan, Maine, at age 97.

In 1998, Republican elder statesman Barry Goldwater died in Paradise Valley, Ariz., at age 89.

Ten years ago: In closing arguments, Timothy McVeigh's attorney urged jurors not to be swayed by sympathy for the Oklahoma City bombing victims, after a prosecutor delivered a wrenching summation that portrayed McVeigh as a terrorist who killed children in the warped belief he was a patriot.

Five years ago: FBI Director Robert Mueller said there may have been more missed clues before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and suggested for the first time that investigators might have uncovered the plot if they had been more diligent about pursuing leads. Oxana Fedorova of Russia was crowned the 51st Miss Universe.

One year ago: A car bomb exploded in Baghdad, killing two British members of a CBS News crew, a U.S. soldier and an Iraqi interpreter, and seriously injuring CBS correspondent Kimberly Dozier. A U.S. military truck crashed into traffic in Kabul, Afghanistan, killing at least one person and sparking violent protests across the country that claimed some 20 lives.

Today's birthdays: Actor Clifton James is 86. Country bandleader Danny Davis (Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass) is 82. Former Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent is 69. Race car driver Al Unser Sr. is 68. CBS News Correspondent Bob Simon is 66. Actor Kevin Conway is 65. Actor Helmut Berger is 63. Rock singer Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) is 62. Actor Anthony Geary is 60. Singer Rebbie Jackson is 57. Movie composer Danny Elfman is 54. Rock musician Michael Porcaro (Toto) is 52. Singer LaToya Jackson is 51. Actor Ted Levine is 50. Actress Annette Bening is 49. Actor Rupert Everett is 48. Actor Adrian Paul is 48. Singer Melissa Etheridge is 46. Actress Lisa Whelchel is 44. Actress Tracey Bregman is 44. Rock musician Noel Gallagher (Oasis) is 40. Singer Jayski McGowan (Quad City DJ's) is 40. Rock musician Chan Kinchla (Blues Traveler) is 38. Rock musician Mark Lee (Third Day) is 34. Cartoonist Aaron McGruder ("The Boondocks") is 33. Singer Melanie Brown (Spice Girls) is 32. Rapper Playa Poncho is 32.

Thought for today: "I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful." -- Bob Hope (1903-2003).

[Text copied from file received from AP Digital]