This day in history

[March 04, 2013]  (AP)  Today is Monday, March 4, the 63rd day of 2013. There are 302 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On March 4, 1913, Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as the 28th president of the United States, succeeding President William Howard Taft.

On this date:

In 1789, the Constitution of the United States went into effect as the first Federal Congress met in New York. (The lawmakers then adjourned for lack of a quorum.)

In 1791, Vermont became the 14th state.

In 1813, President James Madison was inaugurated for a second term of office.

In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th president of the United States. The U.S. Government Printing Office began operation. The Confederate States of America adopted as its flag the original version of the Stars and Bars.

In 1863, the Idaho Territory was created.

In 1888, legendary college football coach Knute Rockne was born in Voss, Norway.

In 1913, just before leaving office, President William Howard Taft signed legislation replacing the Department of Commerce and Labor with separate Departments of Commerce and Labor. The "Buffalo nickel" officially went into circulation.

In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt took office as America's 32nd president.

In 1943, "Mrs. Miniver" won six Academy Awards, including best picture and best actress for Greer Garson (whose 5 1/2-minute acceptance speech became the butt of industry jokes). James Cagney won best actor for "Yankee Doodle Dandy."

In 1952, Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis were married in San Fernando Valley, Calif.

In 1963, American poet William Carlos Williams, 79, died in Rutherford, N.J.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation on the Iran-Contra affair, acknowledging that his overtures to Iran had "deteriorated" into an arms-for-hostages deal.

Ten years ago: The Army's oldest armored division, "Old Ironsides," got orders to head for the Persian Gulf as the total of U.S. land, sea and air forces arrayed against Iraq or preparing to go neared 300,000. A bomb in a backpack killed 22 people at an airport terminal in the southern Philippines.

Five years ago: Republican John McCain clinched his party's presidential nomination. Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton won primary victories in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island, while Barack Obama prevailed in Vermont. Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre retired after 17 years, saying he was "tired." (Favre later made a comeback with the New York Jets, then the Minnesota Vikings, before retiring again.) Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax died in Lake Geneva, Wis., at age 69.

One year ago: President Barack Obama said he didn't want war but insisted he would attack Iran if that were the only option left to stop that nation from getting a nuclear weapon. Vladimir Putin scored a decisive victory in Russia's presidential election to return to the Kremlin and extend his hold on power for six more years. Nearly 300 people in the Republic of Congo were killed after a series of blasts at an arms depot in the capital Brazzaville.

Today's birthdays: Actress Paula Prentiss is 75. Movie director Adrian Lyne is 72. Singer Bobby Womack is 69. Rock musician Chris Squire (Yes) is 65. Singer Shakin' Stevens is 65. Author James Ellroy is 65. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is 63. Singer Chris Rea is 62. Actor Ronn Moss is 61. Actress Kay Lenz is 60. Musician Emilio Estefan is 60. Movie director Scott Hicks is 60. Actress Catherine O'Hara is 59. Actor Mykelti (MY'-kul-tee) Williamson is 56. Actress Patricia Heaton is 55. Actor Steven Weber is 52. Rock musician Jason Newsted is 50. Actress Stacy Edwards is 48. Rapper Grand Puba is 47. Rock musician Patrick Hannan (The Sundays) is 47. Rock singer Evan Dando (Lemonheads) is 46. Actress Patsy Kensit is 45. Gay rights activist Chaz Bono is 44. Actor Nick Stabile (stah-BEEL') is 43. Rock musician Fergal Lawler (The Cranberries) is 42. Country singer Jason Sellers is 42. Jazz musician Jason Marsalis is 36. Actress Jessica Heap is 30. TV personality Whitney Port is 28. Actress Margo Harshman is 27. Actor Joshua Bowman is 25. Actress Andrea Bowen ("Desperate Housewives") is 23. Actress Jenna Boyd is 20.

Thought for today: "It is almost impossible to state what one in fact believes, because it is almost impossible to hold a belief and to define it at the same time." -- William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)

[Associated Press]

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