What Happened On
Rodney King Riots
April 29, 1992
The four white police officers accused of beating Rodney King are acquitted. Los Angeles street riots followed - the worst U.S. riots in 75 years. 51 people were killed, 2,383 were injured, and more than 9,000 were arrested.
Refugees evacuated to U.S. Navy ships
Refugees evacuated to U.S. Navy ships
Vietnam War - Saigon Embassy Evacuation
April 29, 1975
The American embassy in Saigon, Vietnam is evacuated. 1,373 U.S. citizens and 5,595 Vietnamese and third-country nationals are evacuated to U.S. Navy ships. Saigon would fall to the North Vietnamese the following day marking the end of the Vietnam War.
Nixon (left) and tape recorder he used to record his conversations
Nixon (left) and tape recorder he used to record his conversations
Watergate Tapes
April 29, 1974
U.S. President Richard Nixon announces the release of edited transcripts of White House conversations between him and his aides. These became known as the "Watergate tapes."
Hair
April 29, 1968
The musical Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical makes its Broadway debut at the Biltmore Theatre, where it ran for four years and 1,750 performances. It had originally opened as an off-Broadway production the previous October at the Public Theater in New York. Thirteen new songs were added for the Broadway production, including Let the Sun Shine In.
World War II - Dachau Concentration Camp Liberated
April 29, 1945
The German concentration camp at Dachau is liberated by U.S. troops. Opened in 1933, it was the first of the Nazi concentration camps opened in Germany. More than 30,000 people were killed there. Hundreds died as part of medical experiments. It was originally used to house political prisoners, but was eventually used to imprison Jews, Catholic priests, German and Austrian criminals, and foreign nationals from countries that Germany invaded. During the liberation U.S. troops killed a number of guards that were surrendering. Some of the troops were brought up on charges for this, but General George S. Patton dismissed the charges.
Mussolini Hanged (second from left)
Mussolini Hanged (second from left)
Mussolini's Body Hanged in Milan's Main Square
April 29, 1945
The Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini's body, along with other fascists including his mistress, is hanged for exhibit in Milan's main square. He had been executed by firing squad the previous day after being caught trying to escape Italy.
Braun and Hitler walking their dogs
Photo Credit: Bundesarchiv
Braun and Hitler walking their dogsPhoto Credit: Bundesarchiv
Hitler's Wedding
April 29, 1945
The German leader Adolf Hitler marries his mistress Eva Braun. They reportedly committed suicide together the following day.
First Road Vehicle to Break 100 Kilometers Per Hour
April 29, 1899
The Belgian electric car La Jamais Contente (The Never Satisfied) tops out at 105.882 kilometers per hour (65.792 mph). It had two direct drive 25 kW motors, running at 200 volts drawing 124 amperes each for about 66 hp total and was driven by Belgian driver Camille Jenatzy.
Confederate Flag Banned
April 29, 1993
Alabama's governor bans the flying of the Confederate battle flag on the state Capitol building after protests from black leaders who viewed it as a symbol of racism.
Vietnam War - Cambodian Campaign
April 29, 1970
The U.S. and South Vietnam conduct a series of campaigns in eastern Cambodia in an attempt to defeat the People's Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong. The three-month operation resulted in the capture of large stores of communist supplies. Protests to this action led to the Kent State Massacre the following week.
First American Automatic Railroad Coupler
April 29, 1873
The First American railroad coupler is patented, by Eli H. Janney.
Sioux Chiefs and members of the Peace Commission
Sioux Chiefs and members of the Peace Commission
Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868)
April 29, 1868
It established the Great Sioux Reservation including the Black Hills and established that the U.S. Government would hold authority to punish both white settlers who committed crimes against the tribes and tribe members who committed crimes and who were to be delivered to the government rather than face charges in tribal courts. It stipulated that the government would abandon forts along the Bozeman Trail, and effectively ended Red Cloud's War. However, violations by white gold miners and settlers led to the Great Sioux War of 1876 and ultimately to Custer's Last Stand. The government would eventually take back the Black Hills territory. In 1980, the Sioux won a U.S. Supreme Court case in which they were offered $120 million compensation for the land. They refused the money stating they wanted their land back. With interest, the money has now accrued to over $1 billion dollars.
First U.S. Degree-Granting Black University
April 29, 1854
Ashmun Institute of Pennsylvania is chartered. It was renamed Lincoln University in 1866 after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Peter Mark Roget (c1865)
Peter Mark Roget (c1865)
Roget's Thesaurus
April 29, 1852
Peter Mark Roget's thesaurus is released to the public. The original edition contained 15,000 words. He had been working on it for almost 50 years.
Birthdays
Hirohito (Michinomiya Hirohito)
Born April 29, 1901 d. 1989
124th Japanese emperor (1926-89, known as Emperor Shōwa). His reign was designated "Shōwa" (Enlightened Peace). Although his involvement in World War II decisions is debated, he announced Japan's surrender of the war. He was the first Japanese emperor to travel abroad (1971).
Duke Ellington (Edward Kennedy Ellington)
Born April 29, 1899 d. 1974
American jazz musician. Was awarded (1969) the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Richard Nixon.
Andre Agassi
Born April 29, 1970
American tennis player. Former World #1 player, winner of eight grand slam singles titles.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Born April 29, 1958
American actress. Film: Scarface (1983), The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), and Batman Returns (1992, Catwoman).
Grizzly Man
Timothy Treadwell (Timothy Dexter)
Born April 29, 1957 d. 2003
American environmentalist, "Grizzly Man." After spending 13 summers with the brown bears in Alaska, he and his girlfriend were killed and partially eaten by one. This was the first fatal bear attack in Katmai National Park history. The film Grizzly Man (2005) documents his work and death with the bears. Writings: Among Grizzlies: Living With Wild Bears in Alaska (1997).
Daniel Day-Lewis
Born April 29, 1957
English Oscar-winning actor. Film: A Room With a View (1986) and My Left Foot (1989, Oscar).
Dale Earnhardt (Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr.)
Born April 29, 1951 d. 2001
American Hall of Fame racecar driver. Known as "The Intimidator" for his aggressive driving style. He died in a last-lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500.
Celeste Holm
Born April 29, 1917 d. 2012
American Oscar-winning actress. Film: Gentleman's Agreement (1947, Oscar) and All About Eve (1950). Stage: Oklahoma! (1943, Ado Annie).
Donald Mills
Born April 29, 1915 d. 1999
American singer, with the Mills Brothers, the most popular vocal group of all time.
Tom Ewell (Yewell Tompkins)
Born April 29, 1909 d. 1994
American actor. He claimed that due to an inferiority complex he never watched any of his movies. Stage: The Seven Year Itch (1953, Tony Award). Film: The Seven Year Itch (1955). TV: Baretta (Billy Truman).
Harold Clayton Urey
Born April 29, 1893 d. 1981
American chemist. He discovered heavy water (1931), for which he won the 1934 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
Sir Thomas Beecham
Born April 29, 1879 d. 1961
British conductor, founded the London Philharmonic orchestra (1932).
Tad Dorgan (Thomas Aloysius Dorgan)
Born April 29, 1877 d. 1929
American cartoonist. Creator of Judge Rummy's Court, Silk Hat Harry, and Indoor Sports.
William Randolph Hearst
Born April 29, 1863 d. 1951
American newspaper publisher, political figure.
Deaths
Photo Credit: Siddharth Patil
Photo Credit: Siddharth Patil
Albert Hofmann
Died April 29, 2008 b. 1906
Swiss chemist, co-discoverer of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide, 1938). He experienced the first acid trip in 1943 when he accidentally rubbed against some LSD and experienced "…an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors." He would give himself an intentional dose several days later and experience the first bad acid trip.
He continued to take small doses of LSD throughout much of his life.
Sir Alfred Hitchcock
Died April 29, 1980 b. 1899
British Oscar-winning director, "The Master of Suspense." Film: Vertigo (1958) and Psycho (1960, with its famous shower scene). TV: Alfred Hitchcock Presents/The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1955-65).
Quote: "Television has brought murder back into the home - where it belongs."
Invented Nylon
Wallace Carothers (Wallace Hume Carothers)
Died April 29, 1937 b. 1896
American chemist. He invented nylon (1934) while working for the du Pont Company. Nylon's first commercial use was in 1938 for toothbrush bristles. Nylon stockings went on sale in 1939.
Carothers also developed neoprene, the first successful synthetic rubber (1931).
Carothers had a history of depression since his youth, and even though he was under treatment, committed suicide by drinking potassium cyanide.
Billie Hayes
Died April 29, 2021 b. 1925
American actress. TV: H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-70, Witchiepoo). She played Mammy Yokum in the Broadway (1956), film (1959), and TV (1971) versions of Li'l Abner.
Robert Mandan
Died April 29, 2018 b. 1932
American actor. TV: Soap (1977-81, Chester Tate) and Private Benjamin (1982-83, Col. Fielding).
Bob Hoskins
Died April 29, 2014 b. 1942
English actor. Film: Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988, P.I. Eddie Valiant).
First Person to Go Over Niagara Falls In a Barrel and Survive
Annie Edson Taylor
Died April 29, 1921 b. 1838
American daredevil. She was the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive (1901). She did it on her 63rd birthday.