[goofywife]

1959: Mercury Seven introduced
Seven test pilots were introduced to the public today as the Americans best qualified for space flight. The group consisted of M. Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper, Jr, John H. Glenn, Jr, Virgil I. Grissom, Walter M. Schirra, Alan B. Shepard, Jr and Donald K. Slayton.

"Which one actually will be the first American in space won't be known until sometime in 1961 when NASA launches its first manned satellite. All, however, will be thoroughly trained in the next two years to take on the hazardous and historic job," reported the Eureka Humboldt Standard on April 9, 1959.

NOTE: Because of the small space in the space capsule, candidates had to be shorter than 6 feet and weigh no more than 180 pounds. On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard Jr. became the first American in space.

2005: Prince Charles marries Camilla
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles were married in a civil ceremony today. Their marriage was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in St. George's Chapel. "Despite years of public and media criticism, even ridicule, Charles and Camilla's shared affection appeared to finally to have won them a measure of acceptance from the British public, many of whom blamed their relationship for poisoning Charles' marriage to Princess Diana," explained The Post-Standard on April 10, 2005.

1963: Churchill becomes honorary U.S. citizen
Winston Churchill of Great Britain became an honorary U.S. citizen today. "Never before in history has this country, by congressional action, made anyone an honorary citizen," informed the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern on April 9, 1963. "Only the scrawl of presidential signatures on a bill enacted by Congress and on the proclamation the bill authorized was needed today to make Churchill an honorary American citizen."

1959: Frank Lloyd Wright dies
Architecture genius Frank Lloyd Wright died today in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 89. "A giant on the national and international architectural scene, Wright underwent an operation Monday for removal of an intestinal obstruction. He had been stricken Saturday at his winter home near Scottsdale," reported The Sheboygan Press on April 9, 1959. NOTE: Throughout his life, Wright designed more than 1,000 buildings, resulting in more than 500 completed structures around the world. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects recognized Wright as the “greatest American architect of all time.”

1957: Large ships use Suez Canal again
The Suez Canal was open to ships up to 20,000 tons today after U.N. salvage crews cleared the water of the last obstacle left from the Suez Crisis. "While whistles shrilled and hundreds of persons watched from the banks, U.N. salvage crews raised and towed away the sunken Egyptian frigate Abukir yesterday. That cleared the channel for all shipping adapted to its 34-foot depth. The Egyptian Suez Canal Authority gave no indication when capacity operation would be resumed. Before the canal was blocked, ships of about 40,000 tons could go through," explained The Times on April 9, 1957.

1939: 75,000 attend concert at Lincoln Memorial
After African-American contralto Marian Anderson was denied use of Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. by the Daughters of the American Revolution, she held an outdoor Easter concert at the Lincoln Memorial in front of 75,000 people today. "Secretary Ickes, introducing her made no direct reference to the controversy over the D.A.R. auditorium which was credited with causing Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt's resignation from the organization. But he said: 'There are those, even in this great capital of our Democratic republic, who are either too timid or too indifferent to lift up the light that Jefferson and Lincoln carried aloft,'" reported The Kingsport Times on April 10, 1939.