Today is Tuesday, April 21, the 112th day of 2020. There are 254 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On April 21, 1976, clinical trials of the swine flu vaccine began in Washington, D.C.
On this date:
- In 1509, England's King Henry VII died; he was succeeded by his 17-year-old son, Henry VIII.
- In 1789, John Adams was sworn in as the first vice president of the United States.
- In 1836, an army of Texans led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexicans at San Jacinto, assuring Texas independence.
- In 1918, Manfred von Richthofen, 25, the German ace known as the "Red Baron" who was believed to have downed 80 enemy aircraft during World War I, was himself shot down and killed in action over France.
- In 1926, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was born in Mayfair, London; she was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and the Queen Mother.
Ten years ago: Pope Benedict XVI promised "church action" to confront the clerical abuse scandal.
Five years ago: An Egyptian criminal court sentenced ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi to 20 years in prison over the killing of protesters in 2012.
One year ago: President Donald Trump spoke with the newly-elected Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to congratulate him on his landslide election victory. (A second phone call in July, in which Trump solicited Zelenskiy's help in gathering potentially damaging information about his principal Democratic rival, Joe Biden, would lead to Trump's impeachment by the House.)
Today's Birthdays: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is 94. Actress-comedian-writer Elaine May is 88. Actor Charles Grodin is 85. Actor Reni Santoni is 82. Anti-death penalty activist Sister Helen Prejean is 81. Singer-musician Iggy Pop is 73. Actress Patti LuPone is 71. Actor Tony Danza is 69. Actor James Morrison is 66. Actress Andie MacDowell is 62. Actor-director John Cameron Mitchell is 57. Rapper Michael Franti (Spearhead) is 54. Actress Leslie Silva is 52. Actor Toby Stephens is 51. Actor Rob Riggle is 50. Comedian Nicole Sullivan is 50. Actor James McAvoy is 41. Former NFL quarterback Tony Romo is 40. Actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw is 37. Rock singer Sydney Sierota (Echosmith) is 23.
Thought for Today: "I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward." - Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855).
- The Associated Press