TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1836, the Texas fort known as the Alamo fell to Mexican forces after its last defenders were slain. In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that slaves were property in the Dred Scott decision. In 1981, Walter Cronkite signed off as CBS Evening News anchor for the last time. In 2007, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff for Vice Pres. Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury and obstructing justice.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564), painter/sculptor/architect; Cyrano de Bergerac (1619-55), soldier/writer; Bob Wills (1905-75), singer; Lou Costello (1906-59), actor/comedian; Ed McMahon (1923- ), TV personality, is 85; Alan Greenspan (1926- ), economist, is 82; Gabriel García Márquez (1928- ), novelist, is 80; Kiri Te Kanawa (1944- ), opera singer, is 64; Shaquille O'Neal (1972- ), basketball player, is 36.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1923, Johnny Weissmuller became the first swimmer to break five minutes for 440 yards. Weissmuller finished in 4:57, improving his own world record of 5:08 by 11 seconds.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "The marble not yet carved can hold the form of every thought the greatest artist has." - Michelangelo Buonarroti
TODAY'S FACT: Of the nine justices who decided Dred Scott's fate, seven were appointed by pro-slavery Southern presidents and five came from slaveholding families.
TODAY'S NUMBER: 13 - number of days the Alamo defenders held off Mexican forces.
TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter (February 28) and new moon (March 7).
