This day in history

[May 29, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Saturday, May 29, the 149th day of 2010. There are 216 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On May 29, 1953, Mount Everest was conquered as Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tensing Norgay of Nepal became the first climbers to reach the summit.

On this date:

In 1660, England's King Charles II was restored to the monarchy after an interregnum of 11 years.

In 1765, Patrick Henry denounced the Stamp Act before Virginia's House of Burgesses.

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

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

In 1913, the ballet "The Rite of Spring," with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky, had its chaotic world premiere in Paris.

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 1943, Norman Rockwell's portrait of "Rosie the Riveter" appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.

In 1973, Tom Bradley was elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Sam Yorty.

In 1985, 39 people were killed at the European Cup Final in Brussels, Belgium, when rioting broke out and a wall separating British and Italian soccer fans collapsed.

Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton left Washington for a weeklong European tour. The space shuttle Atlantis returned from a repair mission to the international space station. Indonesia's state prosecutors placed former President Suharto under house arrest (however, Suharto's trial on corruption charges was abandoned because of health concerns).

Five years ago: French voters soundly rejected the European Union's proposed constitution, which was also defeated by the Dutch days later. In a deadly rampage at two farmhouses in Bellefontaine, Ohio, 18-year-old Scott Moody shot his grandparents, his mother and two friends before turning the gun on himself. Dan Wheldon won the Indianapolis 500 as Danica Patrick's electrifying run fell short (she finished fourth).

One year ago: A judge in Los Angeles sentenced music producer Phil Spector to 19 years to life in prison for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. Jay Leno hosted "The Tonight Show" on NBC for what he thought was the final time.

Today's birthdays: Actor Clifton James is 89. Former Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent is 72. Race car driver Al Unser is 71. CBS News Correspondent Bob Simon is 69. Actor Kevin Conway is 68. Actor Helmut Berger is 66. Rock singer Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) is 65. Actor Anthony Geary is 63. Singer Rebbie (ree-bee) Jackson is 60. Movie composer Danny Elfman is 57. Rock musician Michael Porcaro (Toto) is 55. Singer LaToya Jackson is 54. Actor Ted Levine is 53. Actress Annette Bening is 52. Actor Rupert Everett is 51. Actor Adrian Paul is 51. Singer Melissa Etheridge is 49. Actress Lisa Whelchel is 47. Actress Tracey Bregman is 47. Rock musician Noel Gallagher (Oasis) is 43. Singer Jayski McGowan (Quad City DJ's) is 43. Rock musician Chan Kinchla (Blues Traveler) is 41. Rock musician Mark Lee (Third Day) is 37. Cartoonist Aaron McGruder ("The Boondocks") is 36. Singer Melanie Brown (Spice Girls) is 35. Rapper Playa Poncho is 35. Actor Brandon Mychal Smith is 21.

Thought for today: "A pessimist and an optimist, so much the worse; so much the better." -- Jean de La Fontaine, French poet (1621-1695)

[Associated Press]

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