Today in History: Friday, April 08, 2016

AP Highlight in History: On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth's record. Braves announcer Mylo Hamilton makes the call AP Photo
On this date in: 1513 Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain. 1913 The 17th amendment to the Constitution, providing for the popular election of U.S. senators, was ratified. 1918 First lady Betty Ford was born Elizabeth Bloomer in Chicago. 1935 The Works Progress Administration was approved by Congress. 1952 President Harry S. Truman seized the steel industry to avert a nationwide strike. 1970 The Senate rejected President Richard Nixon's nomination of G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. 1973 Artist Pablo Picasso died at age 91. 1977 The Clash's self-titled debut album was released in Britain. 1990 Ryan White, an AIDS patient whose battle for acceptance gained national attention, died at age 18. AP Photo 1992 Tennis player Arthur Ashe announced that he had AIDS. 1994 Rock singer-musician Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was found dead in Seattle at age 27 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  Read the original AP story 2002 Suzan-Lori Parks became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama for her play "Topdog/Underdog." 2005 World leaders joined pilgrims and prelates in St. Peter's Square for the funeral of Pope John Paul II. AP Photo/Luca Bruno 2009 Somali pirates hijacked the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama. (The crew retook the cargo ship, and Navy sharpshooters killed two pirates holding the ship's American captain.) 2011 Congressional and White House negotiators struck a last-minute budget deal ahead of a midnight deadline, averting a federal shutdown and cutting billions in spending.		Video Highlights of This Day in History Today's Birthdays: Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood turns 75 years old today. AP Photo/Jonathan Short Name Profession Age Shecky Greene Comedian 90 Seymour Hersh Investigative reporter 79 Kofi Annan Former United Nations secretary-general 78 John Havlicek Basketball Hall of Famer 76 Darlene Gillespie TV personality ("The Mickey Mouse Club") 75 J.J. Jackson R&B singer 75 Peggy Lennon Singer (The Lennon Sisters) 75 Steve Howe Rock musician (Yes) 69 John Madden Director ("Shakespeare in Love") 67 John Schneider Actor, singer ("The Dukes of Hazzard") 56 Izzy Stradlin Rock musician (Guns n' Roses) 54 Julian Lennon Rock musician 53 Biz Markie Rapper 52 Patricia Arquette Actress ("Medium") 48 Taylor Kitsch Actor ("Friday Night Lights") 35 Actress Robin Wright turns 50 years old today. AP Photo/Dan Steinberg