Monthly Archives: April 2012

On this day in 1973 – In the midst of the Watergate scandal, President Richard Nixon announced the resignations of top aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman, along with Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst and White House counsel John Dean. President Nixon accepted responsibility for the bugging of the Watergate building but denied any personal involvement.

On this day in 1913 – Swedish-born U.S. inventor Gideon Sundback patented the zipper.

On this day in 1990 – The musical “A Chorus Line” closed after 6137 performances on Broadway.

On this day in 1981 – Xerox PARC introduces the computer mouse.

On this day in 1994 – More than 22 million South Africans turned out to cast ballots in the country’s first multiracial parliamentary elections, choosing anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela to head a new coalition government.

On this day in 1901 – New York became the first state to require automobile license plates; the fee was one dollar.

On this day in 1981 – The IBM Personal Computer was introduced.

On this day in 1988 – A federal ban on smoking during domestic airline flights of two hours or less went into effect.

On this day in 1970 – The first Earth Day was observed.

On this day in 1977 – The musical “Annie” opened on Broadway.