This day in history

[April 30, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Friday, April 30, the 120th day of 2010. There are 245 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On April 30, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon announced the U.S. was sending troops into Cambodia, an action that sparked widespread protest.

On this date:

In 1789, George Washington took office in New York as the first president of the United States.

In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for 60 million francs, the equivalent of about $15 million.

In 1812, Louisiana became the 18th state of the Union.

In 1859, the Charles Dickens novel "A Tale of Two Cities" was first published, in serial form.

In 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition opened in St. Louis.

In 1939, the New York World's Fair officially opened with a ceremony that included an address by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1945, as Russian troops approached his Berlin bunker, Adolf Hitler committed suicide along with his wife of one day, Eva Braun.

In 1973, President Richard M. Nixon announced the resignations of top aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, along with Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst and White House counsel John Dean.

In 1980, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands abdicated; she was succeeded by her daughter, Princess Beatrix.

In 1990, hostage Frank Reed was released by his captives in Lebanon; he was the second American to be released in eight days.

Ten years ago: Hundreds of thousands participated in a gay-rights rally in Washington.

Five years ago: Missing Georgia woman Jennifer Wilbanks admitted to police in Albuquerque, N.M., that she was a "runaway bride" after initially claiming to have been abducted; on what was supposed to have been her wedding day, she was escorted to the airport by officers for a flight home. Vietnam marked the 30th anniversary of the war's end. James Toney outpointed John Ruiz to win the WBA heavyweight title in New York.

One year ago: Riding a crest of populist anger, the House approved, 357-70, a bill to restrict credit card practices and eliminate sudden increases in interest rates and late fees. Chrysler filed for bankruptcy protection; the federal government pledged up to $8 billion in additional aid and to back warranties. The Iraq war formally ended for British forces as they handed control of the oil-rich Basra area to U.S. commanders. A man drove his car into a crowd of parade spectators in Amsterdam, killing seven people in an attempt to attack the Dutch royal family (the attacker, Karst Tates, died of his injuries).

Today's birthdays: Actress Cloris Leachman is 84. Singer Willie Nelson is 77. Actor Gary Collins is 72. Actor Burt Young is 70. Singer Bobby Vee is 67. Actress Jill Clayburgh is 66. Movie director Allan Arkush is 62. Actor Perry King is 62. Singer Merrill Osmond is 57. Movie director Jane Campion is 56. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is 51. Actor Paul Gross is 51. Basketball Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas is 49. Country musician Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks) is 48. Actor Adrian Pasdar is 45. Rapper Turbo B (Snap) is 43. Rock musician Clark Vogeler is 41. Rhythm-and-blues singer Chris "Choc" Dalyrimple (Soul For Real) is 39. Rock musician Chris Henderson (3 Doors Down) is 39. Country singer Carolyn Dawn Johnson is 39. Actress Lisa Dean Ryan is 38. Rhythm-and-blues singer Akon is 37. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jeff Timmons (98 Degrees) is 37. Actor Johnny Galecki is 35. Singer-musician Cole Deggs (Cole Deggs and the Lonesome) is 34. Rapper Lloyd Banks is 28. Actress Kirsten Dunst is 28. Country singer Tyler Wilkinson (The Wilkinsons) is 26.

Thought for today: "In America, getting on in the world means getting out of the world we have known before." -- Ellery Sedgwick, American editor (1872-1960)

[Associated Press]

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