Today in History

the Associated Press
Published Sunday, March 06, 2005

Today is Sunday, March 6, the 65th day of 2005. There are 300 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:


On this date:




In 1933, a nationwide bank holiday declared by President Franklin Roosevelt went into effect.


In 1983, in a case that drew much notoriety, a woman in New Bedford, Mass., reported being gang-raped atop a pool table in a tavern called Big Dan's; four men were later convicted of the attack.

In 1985, authorities in Mexico found the body of kidnapped U.S. drug agent Enrique Camarena Salazar and a Mexican pilot at a ranch east of Guadalajara.

In 1987, 189 people died when the British ferry "Herald of Free Enterprise" capsized off the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.

Ten years ago: The Republican-controlled House took up business-backed legislation to alter the civil legal system over White House objections that some of the proposals were too extreme (the House passed the measure the following day).

Five years ago: Three white New York City officers were convicted of a cover-up in a brutal police station attack on Haitian immigrant Abner Louima.

One year ago: President Bush backed off on plans to require frequent Mexican travelers to the United States to be fingerprinted and photographed before crossing the border.

Today's Birthdays: TV personality Ed McMahon is 82. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is 79. Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova is 68. Actor-director Rob Reiner is 58. Actor Tom Arnold is 46. Actor D.L. Hughley is 41. Actress Moira Kelly is 37. Basketball player Shaquille O'Neal is 33.