Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

March 3

2006
President Bush: The President proclaims in a speech, "I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India, and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world."  However, Pakistan is neither democratic nor Arab.

1991
Rodney King makes his video debut: He becomes a beating victim of the Los Angeles police.

1977
Bing Crosby: The singer falls 20 feet into the orchestra pit while receiving a standing ovation at the Ambassador Auditorium.

1951
Watch Mr. Wizard: The long-running children's science show debuts, starring Don Herbert as Mr. Wizard.

1934
John Dillinger: The bank robber escapes from the Indiana Crown Point Maximum Security Prison in a sheriff's car. It was falsely reported he used a wooden gun, blackened with shoe polish.

1931
The Star-Spangled Banner: Francis Scott Key's song is adopted as the American national anthem by Congress. Key wrote the song in 1814 after seeing the American flag flying following the British bombardment of Ft. McHenry during the War of 1812.

1901
National Bureau of Standards is established by Congress.

1899
First use of wireless telegraphy to save lives at sea: Rescuers are called after a British lightship is struck by a steamer.

1899
First U.S. admiral: George Dewey is appointed to the newly created position of Admiral of the Navy.

1887
Helen Keller: Anne Sullivan begins teaching six-year-old Helen. She would eventually learn the manual alphabet, braille, and earn a B.A. degree (1904).

1885
Special Delivery: Congress authorizes the U.S. Post Office to begin its new service.

1879
First U.S. postage-due stamps: Congress authorizes denominations of 1¢, 2¢, 3¢, and 5¢. They were first issued in May.

1871
Civil Service Commission: The agency is authorized by Congress, but it was ineffective since no appropriations were made for expenses.

1861
Serfdom abolished by Czar Alexander II of Russia: The peasant farmers became tenant farmers.

1849
U.S. Department of the Interior is established.

1847
First stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office Department: Congress authorizes a 5¢ stamp featuring Ben Franklin and a 10¢ stamp featuring George Washington. They went on sale in July.

1845
Florida becomes the 27th state.

1835
Currency: U.S. establishes branch mints in New Orleans, Louisiana, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dahlonega, Georgia.

1815
The U.S. declares war against Algeria: The Dey of Algiers had begun plundering U.S. ships.

1812
First U.S. foreign aid bill: Congress passes a bill authorizing $50,000 for the relief of Venezuelan earthquake victims.

1791
Whiskey Rebellion: Congress passes its first internal revenue law - an excise duty of 11 to 30 cents a gallon on stills and spirits distilled in the U.S. - prompting a revolt by western Pennsylvania farmers in 1794.

1791
District of Columbia is established by Congress.

1692
Salem Witch Trials: Sarah Good and a female slave are sent to jail for witchcraft. Sarah was later hanged. In the following months 19 others would be executed for witchcraft.

1974
David Faustino, American actor. TV: Married ... with Children (Bud Bundy).

1962
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, American track athlete, winner of Olympic gold medals for the heptathlon (1988, 1992) and long jump (1988).

1962
Herschel Walker, American football player, 1982 Heisman Trophy winner.

1950
Tim Kazurinski, American comedian. TV: Saturday Night Live.

1918
Arnold Newman, American photographer, contributuer to Life, Look, Esquire, etc.

1911     d. 1937
Jean Harlow (Harlean Carpenter), American actress, Hollywood's original blond bombshell. Film: Platinum Blonde (1931) and Bombshell (1933).

1895     d. 1993
Matthew Bunker Ridgway, American four-star general, "Father of the 82nd Airborne" and Army chief of staff (1953-55). He created the 82nd Airborne - the Army's first airborne division - during World War II.

1847     d. 1922
Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-born American inventor. He invented the telephone (1876) and the first successful phonograph record.

1845     d. 1918
Georg Cantor, German mathematician. He founded the theory of infinite ensembles, was one of the first to define real numbers, and co-developed the Cantor-Dedekind axiom describing the one-to-one correspondence between real numbers and points on a line.

1831     d. 1897
George Mortimer Pullman, American inventor. He invented the railroad sleeping car (1864) with its folding upper bed.

1826     d. 1909
Joseph Wharton, American steel magnate. He founded Bethlehem Steel Co. and the world's first business school: Wharton School of Finance and Political Economy at the Univ. of Pennsylvania (1881).

1993     b. 1906
Albert Sabin, Russian-born American microbiologist. He developed the oral Polio vaccine, which was administered by sugar cube to millions.

1991     b. 1895
Arthur Murray (Moses Teichman), American ballroom dance instructor.

1969     b. 1881
Nicholas M. Schenck, American film executive, co-founder (1924) and president (1927-55) of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

1959     b. 1908
Lou Costello (Louis Francis Cristillo), American Comedian, Abbott's partner.

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