Page One

Saturday, March 30th is the 89th day of 2002. There are 276 days left in the year. 

Highlight in History: 

On March 30, 1981, President Reagan was shot and seriously injured outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John W. Hinckley Jr. Also wounded were White House press secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a District of Columbia police officer. 

On this date: 

In 1822, Florida became a U.S. territory. 

In 1842, Dr. Crawford W. Long of Jefferson, Ga., first used ether as an anesthetic during a minor operation. 

In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward reached agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal roundly ridiculed as “Seward’s Folly.” 

In 1870, the 15th amendment to the Constitution, giving black men the right to vote, was declared in effect. 

In 1870, Texas was readmitted to the Union. 

In 1945, the Soviet Union invaded Austria during World War II. 

In 1964, John Glenn withdrew from the Ohio race for U.S. Senate because of injuries suffered in a fall. 

In 1970, the musical “Applause” opened on Broadway. 

In 1973, Ellsworth Bunker resigned as U.S. ambassador to South Vietnam, and was succeeded by Graham A. Martin. 

In 1986, actor James Cagney died at his farm in Stanfordville, N.Y., at age 86. 

Ten years ago: “The Silence of the Lambs” won five top Oscars at the 64th annual Academy Awards, including best picture, best actress for Jodie Foster and best actor for Anthony Hopkins. 

Five years ago: The reigning champion Lady Vols of Tennessee won their fifth NCAA women’s basketball title by defeating Old Dominion, 68-59. 

One year ago: Top environment officials from North, Central and South America ended two days of talks in Montreal without a consensus agreement on global warming. (A statement signed by 26 ministers from Latin American and Caribbean countries faulted a decision by the United States to reject the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.) 

Today’s Birthdays: Singer Frankie Laine is 89. Former CIA Director Richard Helms is 89. Actor Richard Dysart is 73. Actor John Astin is 72. Game show host Peter Marshall is 72. Actor-director Warren Beatty is 65. Rock musician Graeme Edge (The Moody Blues) is 61. Rock musician Eric Clapton is 57. Actor Robbie Coltrane is 52. Actor Paul Reiser is 45. Rap artist MC Hammer is 39. Singer Tracy Chapman is 38. Actor Ian Ziering is 38. Singer Celine Dion is 34. Singer-musician Scott Moffatt (The Moffatts) is 19.