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 Today's highlight in history:
On May 29, 1765, Patrick Henry denounced the Stamp Act before Virginia's House of Burgesses. (It was during this speech that Henry supposedly responded to cries of "Treason!" by declaring, "If this be treason, make the most of it," according to an 1817 biography of Henry by William Wirt, who wrote that he had confirmed the quote with former President Thomas Jefferson.)
On this date:
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 1903, comedian Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, London.
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 1953, Mount Everest was conquered as Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tensing Norgay of Nepal became the first climbers to reach the summit.
In 1985, 39 people were killed at the European Champions Cup Final in Brussels, Belgium, when rioting broke out and a wall separating British and Italian soccer fans collapsed.
In 1995, Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both the House and the Senate, died in Skowhegan, Maine, at age 97.
Ten years ago: Republican elder statesman Barry Goldwater died in Paradise Valley, Ariz., at age 89.
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 Five years ago: President Bush, in a wide-ranging interview with reporters at the White House, repeated his defense of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, and hinted that relations with France remained scarred over its opposition to the war. AOL Time Warner and Microsoft announced a settlement in their battle over Internet browsers, with the software giant paying AOL $750 million.
One year ago: President Bush ordered new U.S. economic sanctions to pressure Sudan's government to halt the bloodshed in Darfur. Cindy Sheehan, the soldier's mother who had galvanized an anti-war movement with her monthlong protest outside President Bush's ranch, announced her "resignation" as the public face of the movement. In Hudson Oaks, Texas, Gilberta Estrada, 25, hanged three of her small daughters and herself in a closet using pieces of clothing and sashes; a fourth daughter, 8 months old, survived.
Today's birthdays: Actor Clifton James is 87. Country bandleader Danny Davis (Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass) is 83. Former Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent is 70. Race car driver Al Unser is 69. CBS News Correspondent Bob Simon is 67. Actor Kevin Conway is 66. Actor Helmut Berger is 64. Rock singer Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) is 63. Actor Anthony Geary is 61. Singer Rebbie Jackson is 58. Movie composer Danny Elfman is 55. Rock musician Michael Porcaro (Toto) is 53. Singer LaToya Jackson is 52. Actor Ted Levine is 51. Actress Annette Bening is 50. Actor Rupert Everett is 49. Actor Adrian Paul is 49. Singer Melissa Etheridge is 47. Actress Lisa Whelchel is 45. Actress Tracey Bregman is 45. Rock musician Noel Gallagher (Oasis) is 41. Singer Jayski McGowan (Quad City DJ's) is 41. Rock musician Chan Kinchla (Blues Traveler) is 39. Rock musician Mark Lee (Third Day) is 35. Cartoonist Aaron McGruder ("The Boondocks") is 34. Singer Melanie Brown (Spice Girls) is 33. Rapper Playa Poncho is 33.
Thought for today: "What makes us discontented with our condition is the absurdly exaggerated idea we have of the happiness of others."
-- Anonymous
[Associated Press]
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