- In 1790, Congress authorized the first U.S. Census.

- In 1845, President Tyler signed a congressional resolution to annex the Republic of Texas.

- In 1864, Rebecca Lee became the first black woman to receive an American medical degree, from the New England Female Medical College in Boston.

- In 1867, Nebraska became the 37th state.

- In 1872, Congress authorized creation of Yellowstone National Park.

- In 1932, 20-month-old Charles A. Lindbergh Jr., the son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh, was kidnapped from the family home near Hopewell, N.J. (Remains identified as those of the child were found the following May.)

- In 1940, "Native Son" by Richard Wright was first published.

- In 1954, Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire from the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives, wounding five congressmen.

- In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps.

- In 1981, Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands began a hunger strike at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland; he died 65 days later.

- Ten years ago: Authorities near Waco, Texas, continued negotiating with Branch Davidians holed up in their bullet-scarred compound, a day after a furious gun battle between the Davidians and federal agents that left ten people dead.

- Five years ago: In Germany, Lower Saxony Governor Gerhard Schroeder won a sweeping re-election that paved the way for his successful campaign to oust Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

- Thought for today: "No man ever made a great speech on a mean subject." -- Eugene V. Debs, American socialist leader (1855-1926)