March 4th

Vladimir Putin scored a decisive victory in Russia's presidential election to return to the Kremlin and extend his hold on power for six more years.

International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur becoming the first sitting head of state to be indicted.

The world's first national internet election is held. Estonia was the first country to allow its citizens to vote in a parliamentary election through the world wide web.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun died in Arlington, Va., at age 90.

President Bill Clinton barred spending federal money on human cloning.

Four Muslim fundamentalists were found guilty in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in New York.

Time Inc. and Warner Communications Inc. announced plans to merge.

President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation on the Iran-Contra affair, acknowledging his overtures to Iran had "deteriorated" into an arms-for-hostages deal.

Robert Mugabe becomes Zimbabwe's first black prime minister. A hero of the black struggle against the white minority rule in his country, Mugabe won a landslide victory. More recently, his oppressive style of leadership has been condemned domestically and internationally.

The Vrancea earthquake claims over 1500 lives. Most of the victims were residents of Romania's capital Bucharest.

Actors Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis were married in North Hollywood, Calif.

1st flight of the airship Hindenburg at Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Franklin D. Roosevelt inaugurated as 32nd US President, pledges to pull US out of the Depression, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself".

First recorded case of Spanish flu at Funston Army Camp, Kanas; start of worldwide pandemic killing 50-100 million.

Republican Jeanette Rankin of Montana took her seat as the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Woodrow Wilson was sworn as the 28th president of the United States.

Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th US President.

The Illinois state legislature granted a city charter to Chicago.

Thomas Jefferson is the first US President inaugurated in Washington, D.C.

Vermont became the 14th state in the United States.

The Constitution went into effect as the first Congress met in New York City.

England's King Charles II granted a charter to William Penn for an area of land that later became Pennsylvania.

Battle of the Sit River: Mongol forces of Batu Khan overcome Russians under Yuri II of Vladimir-Suzdal near Yaroslavl in Russia, ending Russian resistence.