Events, Births and Deaths Happening on this Date

1509

Henry VIII became king of England following the death of his father, Henry VII.

1864

Congress authorized the use of the phrase ''In God We Trust'' on U.S. coins.

1889

The Oklahoma Land Rush began at noon as thousands of homesteaders staked claims.

1898

The first shot of the Spanish-American War rang out as the USS Nashville captured a Spanish merchant ship off Key West, Fla.

1952

An atomic test conducted in Nevada became the first nuclear explosion shown on live network television.

1954

The televised Senate Army-McCarthy hearings began.

1964

President Johnson opened the New York World's Fair.

1970

Millions of Americans concerned about the environment observed the first ''Earth Day.''

1993

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum was dedicated in Washington, D.C.

1997

In Lima, Peru, government commandos stormed the Japanese ambassador's residence, ending a 126-day hostage crisis. All 14 Tupac Amaru rebels were killed; 71 hostages were rescued.

1999

NATO warplanes struck directly against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, destroying his luxurious mansion.

2000

In dramatic pre-dawn raid, armed immigration agents seized Elian Gonzalez from his relatives' home in Miami; Elian was reunited with his father at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington.

1984

Ansel Adams, American photographer.

1994

Richard M. Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, died at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, four days after suffering a stroke. He was 81.

1996

Humorist Erma Bombeck died in San Francisco at age 69.