By The Associated Press

                - Today is Thursday, March 4, the 63rd day of 1999. There are 302
                  days left in the year.
                - On March 4, 1789, the Constitution of the United States went
                  into effect as the first federal Congress met in New York.
                  Lawmakers then adjourned for lack of a quorum.
                - In 1791, Vermont became the 14th state.
                - In 1829, an unruly crowd mobbed the White House during the
                  inaugural reception for President Jackson.
                - In 1837, the Illinois state legislature granted a city charter
                  to Chicago.
                - In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated president.
                - In 1902, the American Automobile Association was founded in
                  Chicago.
                - In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge's inauguration was broadcast
                  live on 21 radio stations coast-to-coast.
                - In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated president,
                  pledging to lead the country out of the Great Depression.
                - In 1933, the start of President Roosevelt's first administration
                  brought with it the first woman to serve in the Cabinet: Labor
                  Secretary Frances Perkins.
                - In 1952, Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis were married in San
                  Fernando Valley, Calif.
                - In 1971, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau married
                  Margaret Sinclair in North Vancouver, B.C. They later divorced.
                - Ten years ago: Time Inc. and Warner Communications Inc.
                  announced plans to merge into the world's largest media and
                  entertainment conglomerate. Eastern Airlines machinists went on
                  strike and were joined by pilots and flight attendants.
                - Five years ago: In New York, four extremists were convicted of
                  the World Trade Center bombing that killed six people and injured
                  more than a thousand. The space shuttle Columbia blasted off on a
                  two-week mission. Actor-comedian John Candy died in Durango,
                  Mexico, at age 43.
                - One year ago: The Supreme Court ruled that sexual harassment at
                  work can be illegal even when the offender and victim are of the
                  same gender. A judge ordered Miami to hold a new mayoral election,
                  saying widespread absentee-ballot fraud played a role in the
                  victory of Xavier Suarez the previous fall.

                *** Today's Birthdays
                - Folk singer Miriam Makeba is 67.
                - Actress Paula Prentiss is 60.
                - Movie director Adrian Lyne ("Fatal Attraction") is 58.
                - Singer Bobby Womack is 55.
                - Rock musician Chris Squire (Yes) is 51.
                - Singer Shakin' Stevens is 51.
                - Singer Chris Rea is 48.
                - Actress Kay Lenz is 46.
                - Musician Emilio Estefan is 46.
                - Movie director Scott Hicks ("Shine") is 46.
                - Actress Catherine O'Hara is 45.
                - Actor Mykelti Williamson is 39.
                - Actor Steven Weber is 38.
                - Rock musician Jason Newsted (Metallica) is 36.
                - Actress Stacy Edwards ("Chicago Hope") is 34.
                - Rock musician Patrick Hannan (The Sundays) is 33.
                - Rock singer Evan Dando (Lemonheads) is 32.
                - Actress Patsy Kensit is 31.
                - Chastity Bono is 30.
                - Rock musician Fergal Lawler (The Cranberries) is 28.
                - Country singer Jason Sellers is 28.