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John F. Kennedy.
• In 1979, Congress gave its final approval to forming the U.S. Department of Education.
• In 1994, more than 350 Republican congressional candidates gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to sign the "Contract with America," a 10-point platform they pledged to enact if voters sent a GOP majority to the House.
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• Ten years ago: President George W. Bush said the United Nations should have a chance to force Saddam Hussein to give up his weapons of mass destruction before the United States acted on its own against Iraq, but told a Republican fundraising event in Denver that action had to come quickly.
• Five years ago: Soldiers fired into crowds of anti-government demonstrators in Yangon, Myanmar; Kenji Nagai, 50, a video journalist for Japan's APF News, was shot and killed. President George W. Bush promised to take steps to reduce air traffic congestion and long delays that were leaving travelers grounded.
• One year ago: Opening statements in the Los Angeles trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, took place as prosecutors accused Murray of killing the superstar through irresponsible use of the anesthetic propofol, and the defense maintaining Jackson had caused his own death. (Murray was later convicted of felony involuntary manslaughter.) Israel gave the go-ahead for construction of 1,100 new Jewish housing units in east Jerusalem; the announcement met with swift criticism from the United States and the European Union.
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• Today's Birthdays: Actress Jayne Meadows is 92. Actress Kathleen Nolan is 79. Actor Wilford Brimley is 78. Actor Claude Jarman Jr. is 78. Author Barbara Howar is 78. World Golf Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth is 73. Singer-musician Randy Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) is 69. Rock singer Meat Loaf is 65. Actress Liz Torres is 65. Actor A Martinez is 64. Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt is 63. Actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is 62. Singer Shaun Cassidy is 54. Rock singer Stephan (STEE'-fan) Jenkins (Third Eye Blind) is 48. Actor Patrick Muldoon is 44. Singer Mark Calderon is 42. Actress Amanda Detmer is 41. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is 40. Rock singer Brad Arnold (3 Doors Down) is 34. Christian rock musician Grant Brandell (Underoath) is 31. Rapper Lil' Wayne is 30. Singer Avril Lavigne (AV'-rihl la-VEEN') is 28.
• • Thought for Today: "God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages." -- Jacques Deval, French writer, director and actor (1895-1972).
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