Today in history: March 31
At the conclusion of a nationally broadcast address, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared, “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President,” and more events that happened on this day in history.
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1931: Knute Rockne
In 1931, Notre Dame college football coach Knute Rockne (noot RAHK’-nee), 43, was killed in the crash of a TWA plane in Bazaar, Kan.
1933: Franklin D. Roosevelt
In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Conservation Work Act, which created the Civilian Conservation Corps.
1943: "Oklahoma!"
In 1943, “Oklahoma!,” the first musical play by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, opened on Broadway.
1968: Lyndon B. Johnson
In 1968, at the conclusion of a nationally broadcast address on Vietnam, President Lyndon B. Johnson stunned listeners by declaring, “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.”
2004: Fallujah
In 2004, four American civilian contractors were killed in Fallujah, Iraq; frenzied crowds dragged the burned, mutilated bodies and strung two of them from a bridge.
2005: Terri Schiavo
In 2005, Terri Schiavo (SHY’-voh), 41, died at a hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, 13 days after her feeding tube was removed in a wrenching right-to-die court fight.
2009: Benjamin Netanyahu
In 2009, Benjamin Netanyahu took office as Israel’s new prime minister after the Knesset approved his government.
2011: Libya
Ten years ago: Moammar Gadhafi struck a defiant stance after two high-profile defections from his regime, saying the Western leaders who had decimated his military with airstrikes should resign immediately — not him. (Gadhafi’s message was in the form of a scroll across the bottom of state TV as he remained out of sight.)
2016: Kolkata, India
Five years ago: An overpass collapsed onto a crowded Kolkata, India, neighborhood, killing 26 people.
2016: Richmond, Virginia
Five years ago: A 34-year-old Illinois man fatally shot a Virginia state trooper at a busy bus terminal in Richmond before being killed by other troopers.
2019: Joe Biden
In 2019, former Vice President Joe Biden defended his interactions with women; saying he didn’t believe he had ever acted inappropriately.
2019: Nipsey Hussle
In 2019, rapper Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot outside the clothing store he had founded to help rebuild his troubled South Los Angeles neighborhood; he was 33.
2020: Coronavirus
One year ago: The White House released new projections that the number of coronavirus deaths in the U.S. could range from 100,000 to 240,000 even if current social distancing guidelines were maintained.
2020: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
One year ago: Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan officially stepped down from duties as members of the royal family.
2020: The NFL
One year ago: NFL owners voted to expand the number of playoff teams by one in each conference in the 2020 season.
Your Wednesday morning headlines: Texas detention facility for migrants severely overcrowded; Capitol rioters apologize; Watergate mastermind dies. Get caught up.