Today in History

Mar 25, 2022, 9:00 AM | Updated: 9:01 pm

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Today in History

Today is Saturday, March 26, the 85th day of 2022. There are 280 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On March 26, 2010, the U.S. and Russia sealed the first major nuclear weapons treaty in nearly two decades, agreeing to slash the former Cold War rivals’ warhead arsenals by nearly one-third.

On this date:

In 1812, an earthquake devastated Caracas, Venezuela, causing an estimated 26,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna.

In 1945, during World War II, Iwo Jima was fully secured by U.S. forces following a final, desperate attack by Japanese soldiers.

In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Baker v. Carr, gave federal courts the power to order reapportionment of states’ legislative districts.

In 1973, the soap opera “The Young and the Restless” premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1979, a peace treaty was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin (men-AH’-kem BAY’-gihn) and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

In 1982, groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C., for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

In 1988, Jesse Jackson stunned fellow Democrats by soundly defeating Michael S. Dukakis in Michigan’s Democratic presidential caucuses.

In 1992, a judge in Indianapolis sentenced former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to six years in prison for raping a Miss Black America contestant. (Tyson ended up serving three years.)

In 1997, the bodies of 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate techno-religious cult who committed suicide were found inside a rented mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

In 2014, Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith (SOO’-lay-mahn AH’-boo gayth), was convicted in New York for his role as al-Qaida’s fiery chief spokesman after 9/11. (He was later sentenced to life in prison.)

In 2020, the U.S. surpassed official Chinese government numbers to become the country with the most reported coronavirus infections.

Ten years ago: As demonstrations swirled outside, Supreme Court justices began hearing arguments on challenges to President Barack Obama’s historic health care overhaul. (In June 2012, the court would uphold almost all of the law, including the most disputed part: the mandate that virtually all Americans have health insurance or pay a penalty.) Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Cuba in the footsteps of his immediate predecessor, Pope John Paul II, expressing great affection for Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits and heartfelt hopes for reconciliation.

Five years ago: President Donald Trump took to Twitter to attack conservative lawmakers for the failure of the Republican bill to replace former President Barack Obama’s health care law.

One year ago: Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, saying the cable news giant falsely claimed that the voting company rigged the 2020 election. Maj. Gen. William Walker, commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, was tapped to become the House’s first African American sergeant-at-arms. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a law banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports, making Tennessee the third state to approve such a measure in 2021.

Today’s Birthdays: Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is 92. Actor Alan Arkin is 88. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is 87. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 82. Actor James Caan is 82. Author Erica Jong is 80. Journalist Bob Woodward is 79. Singer Diana Ross is 78. Rock singer Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) is 74. Singer and TV personality Vicki Lawrence is 73. Actor Ernest Thomas is 73. Comedian Martin Short is 72. Country singer Ronnie McDowell is 72. Movie composer Alan Silvestri is 72. Rock musician Monte Yoho is 70. Former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is 69. Radio talk show host Curtis Sliwa is 68. Country singer Dean Dillon is 67. Country singer Charly McClain is 66. TV personality Leeza Gibbons is 65. Actor Ellia English is 63. Actor Jennifer Grey is 62. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen is 62. Actor Billy Warlock is 61. Actor Eric Allan Kramer is 60. Basketball and College Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton is 60. Actor Michael Imperioli is 56. Rock musician James Iha (EE’-hah) is 54. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 54. Movie director Martin McDonagh (Film: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”) is 52. Actor Leslie Mann is 50. Actor T.R. Knight is 49. Rapper Juvenile is 47. Actor Amy Smart is 46. Actor Bianca Kajlich (KY’-lihk) is 45. Moderator Margaret Brennan (TV: “Face the Nation”) is 42. Actor Sterling Sulieman is 38. Actor Keira Knightley is 37. Rapper J-Kwon is 36. Actor Carly Chaikin is 32.