This day in history

[April 22, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, April 22, the 112th day of 2010. There are 253 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On April 22, 1970, millions of Americans concerned about the environment observed the first "Earth Day."

On this date:

In 1864, Congress authorized the use of the phrase "In God We Trust" on U.S. coins.

In 1889, the Oklahoma Land Rush began at noon as thousands of homesteaders staked claims.

In 1898, with the United States and Spain on the verge of formally declaring war, the U.S. Navy began blockading Cuban ports. Congress authorized creation of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, also known as the "Rough Riders."

In 1930, the United States, Britain and Japan signed the London Naval Treaty, which regulated submarine warfare and limited shipbuilding.

In 1938, 45 workers were killed in a coal mine explosion at Keen Mountain in Buchanan County, Va.

In 1944, during World War II, U.S. forces began invading Japanese-held New Guinea with amphibious landings at Hollandia and Aitape.

In 1954, the publicly televised sessions of the Senate Army-McCarthy hearings began.

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson opened the New York World's Fair.

In 1990, pro-Iranian kidnappers in Lebanon freed American hostage Robert Polhill after nearly 39 months of captivity.

In 1994, Richard M. Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, died at a New York hospital four days after suffering a stroke; he was 81.

Ten years ago: In a dramatic pre-dawn raid, armed immigration agents seized Elian Gonzalez from his relatives' home in Miami; Elian was reunited with his father at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington. Broadway producer Alexander Cohen died in New York at age 79.

Five years ago: Zacarias Moussaoui (zak-uh-REE'-uhs moo-SOW'-ee) pleaded guilty in a federal courtroom outside Washington, D.C., to conspiring with the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers to kill Americans. President George W. Bush named Gen. Peter Pace to be the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

One year ago: President Barack Obama marked Earth Day with a pitch for his energy plan, calling for a "new era of energy exploration in America" during a visit to Newton, Iowa. The FDA said 17-year-old girls could get "morning after" birth control without a prescription. Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls won the NBA's rookie of the year award. British-born movie director Ken Annakin ("Swiss Family Robinson") died in Beverly Hills, Calif., at age 94. Oscar-winning British cinematographer Jack Cardiff ("Black Narcissus") died in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, at age 94.

Today's birthdays: Actor George Cole is 85. Actress Charlotte Rae is 84. Actress Estelle Harris is 78. Singer Glen Campbell is 74. Actor Jack Nicholson is 73. Singer Mel Carter is 67. Author Janet Evanovich is 67. Country singer Cleve Francis is 65. Movie director John Waters is 64. Singer Peter Frampton is 60. Rock singer-musician Paul Carrack (Mike and the Mechanics; Squeeze) is 59. Actor Joseph Bottoms is 56. Actor Ryan Stiles is 51. Baseball manager Terry Francona is 51. Comedian Byron Allen is 49. Actor Chris Makepeace is 46. Rock musician Fletcher Dragge (DRAH'-guh) is 44. Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan is 44. Actress Sheryl Lee is 43. Actress-talk show host Sherri Shepherd is 43. Country singer-musician Heath Wright (Ricochet) is 43. Country singer Kellie Coffey is 39. Actor Eric Mabius is 39. Actor Ingo Rademacher (RAH'-deh-mah-ker) is 39. Rock musician Shavo Odadjian (System of a Down) is 36. Rock singer-musician Daniel Johns (Silverchair) is 31. Actress Michelle Ryan is 26. Actress Amber Heard is 24.

Thought for today: "Life is one long process of getting tired." -- Samuel Butler, British author (1835-1902)

[Associated Press]

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