Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

May 4

2003
Iraq War: Secretary of State Colin Powell on WMDs: "I'm absolutely sure that there are weapons of mass destruction there and the evidence will be forthcoming. We're just getting it just now."

1989
Iran-Contra Affair: Lt. Col. Oliver North is convicted of aiding and abetting in the obstruction of Congress, destroying government documents, and receiving an illegal gratuity. The destruction charge was overturned in 1990.

1989
First launch of a space probe from a space shuttle: The Magellan space craft is launched on its mission to map the surface of Venus.

1970
Vietnam War: National Guardsmen kill four students of Kent State University (Ohio) who were protesting the war.

1963
First philatelic museum: The Cardinal Spellman Philatelic museum in Massachusetts, the first museum designed and built for purpose of honoring the postal system, is dedicated.

1961
Civil Rights Movement: The Freedom Rides begin, challenging bus segregation in the U.S. This biracial group would be repeatedly attacked and arrested for mixing racially in segregated buses and terminals.

1923
Prohibition: New York State repeals its Prohibition Enforcement Act.

1865
Civil War: Last major Confederate Army surrenders. (Source: The Civil War Day by Day)

1846
First state to ban capital punishment: Michigan passes a law which would go into effect the following year.

1776
American Revolution: Rhode Island declares its independence from Great Britain, two months before the Continental Congress.

1702
Queen Anne's War: The war begins in Europe. It soon spread to North America, lasting until 1713.

1959
Randy Travis, American country singer. Music: Always and Forever (1987).

1951
Jackie Jackson (Sigmund Esco Jackson), American singer, one of the Jackson Five.

1943
Ronnie Bond, British drummer, with the Troggs. Music: Wild Thing (1966, #1).

1942
Nickolas Ashford, American songwriter with his wife Valerie Simpson. Music: Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (1968) and Ain't No Mountain High Enough (1970).

1940
Robin Cook, American physician, author. Writings: Coma (1977), and Outbreak (1987).

1929     d. 1992
Audrey Hepburn (Audrey Hepburn Ruston), Belgium-born Oscar-Tony-winning actress. Film: Roman Holiday (1953, Oscar) and Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961).

1928
Maynard Ferguson, Canadian jazz musician. Music: Conquistador (1977).

1928
Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian president.

1880     d. 1958
R.M. Brinkerhoff, American cartoonist, creator of Little Mary Mixup (1917).

1827     d. 1864
John Hanning Speke, English explorer. He discovered the source of the Nile (1858).

1796     d. 1859
Horace Mann, American educator, "Father of Public Education" in the U.S. He was elected to the Hall of Fame for Great Americans (1900).

1655     d. 1731
Bartolommeo Cristofori, Italian harpsichord maker and inventor of the piano.

1950     b. 1886
William Rose Benet, American Pulitzer-winning poet, novelist. Writings: The Dust Which is God (1941).

1891     b. 1813
Edward Maynard, American dentist. He was the first to recognize dental fever (1836) and the first to use gold fillings (1838).

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