By The Associated Press
- Today is Friday, March 12, the 71st day of 1999. There are 294 days
left in the year.
- On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Guides,
which later became the Girl Scouts of America.
- In 1664, New Jersey became a British colony as King Charles II
granted land in the New World to his brother James, the Duke of
York.
- In 1925, Chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen died.
- In 1930, Indian political and spiritual leader Mohandas K. Gandhi
began a 200-mile march to protest a British tax on salt.
- In 1932, the so-called "Swedish Match King," Ivar Kreuger, committed
suicide in Paris, leaving behind a financial empire that turned out
to be worthless.
- In 1933, President Roosevelt delivered the first of his radio
"fireside chats," telling Americans about the nation's economic
crisis.
- In 1938, the "Anschluss" took place as German troops entered
Austria.
- In 1939, Pope Pius XII was formally crowned in ceremonies at the
Vatican.
- In 1940, Finland and the Soviet Union concluded an armistice during
World War II. Fighting between the two countries flared again the
following year.
- In 1947, President Truman established what became known as the
"Truman Doctrine" to help Greece and Turkey resist Communism.
- In 1969, Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in London.
- In 1993, Janet Reno was sworn in as the nation's first female
attorney general.
- Ten years ago: Some 2,500 veterans and supporters marched at the Art
Institute of Chicago to demand that officials remove an American
flag placed on the floor as part of a student's exhibit.
- Five years ago: The Church of England ordained its first women
priests. Secretary of State Warren Christopher held discussions with
Chinese leaders in Beijing that were marked by blunt exchanges on
human rights.
- One year ago: The government reported the rate of new cancer cases
among Americans had inched down for the first time; so 70,000 fewer
people than expected were diagnosed between 1992 and 1995.
*Happy Birthday*
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- Former AFL-CIO president Lane Kirkland is 77.
- Former astronaut Wally Schirra is 76.
- Playwright Edward Albee is 71.
- Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young is 67.
- Broadcast journalist Lloyd Dobyns is 63.
- Singer Al Jarreau is 59.
- Actress Barbara Feldon is 58.
- Actress-singer Liza Minnelli is 53.
- Singer-songwriter James Taylor is 51.
- Rock singer-musician Bill Payne (Little Feat) is 50.
- Actor Jon Provost ("Lassie") is 49.
- Actor Jerry Levine is 42.
- Rock musician Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) is 42.
- Singer Marlon Jackson (The Jackson Five) is 42.
- Actor Courtney B. Vance is 39.
- Actor Titus Welliver ("Brooklyn South") is 38.
- Baseball player Darryl Strawberry is 37.
- Actress Julia Campbell is 36.
- Rock musician Graham Coxon (Blur) is 30.