April first

Today's Highlight in History:
On April first, 1945, American forces invaded Okinawa during World War Two.

On this date:
In 1789, the US House of Representatives held its first full meeting, in New York City. Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania was elected the first House Speaker.

In 1853, Cincinnati, Ohio, became the first US city to pay its firefighters a regular salary.

In 1873, composer Sergei Rachmaninoff was born in Novgorod Province, Russia.

In 1918, the Royal Air Force was established in Britain.

In 1933, Nazi Germany began persecuting Jews with a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses.

In 1939, the United States recognized the Franco government in Spain following the end of the Spanish civil war.

In 1946, tidal waves struck the Hawaiian islands, resulting in more than 170 deaths.

In 1947, Greece's King George the Second died.

In 1960, the first weather satellite, "TIROS-One," was launched from Cape Canaveral.

In 1970, President Nixon signed a measure banning cigarette advertising on radio and television, to take effect after January first, 1971.

Ten years ago: More Soviet military vehicles rolled through the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, a day after Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev warned the Baltic republic to annul its declaration of independence.

Five years ago: United Nations peacekeepers officially took over from the US-led multinational force in Haiti. With US Defense Secretary William Perry looking on, Ukraine began the process of dismantling its nuclear missiles. More than 1500 mourners attended a vigil for Mexican-American singer Selena in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she'd been shot to death the day before.

One year ago: The United States branded as an illegal abduction the capture of three US Army soldiers near the Macedonian-Yugoslav border; President Clinton demanded their immediate release. A New Jersey man was arrested and charged with originating the "Melissa" e-mail virus. (David L. Smith later pleaded guilty to various state and federal charges.)

"Life is short. Live it up."

-- Nikita S. Khrushchev, Soviet leader (1894-1971).