The Turning Point

I guess you could look upon April 30 as a significant turning point in history, considering the things that have happened on this date.

For example ...

• On April 30, 1492, Christopher Columbus was given his commission of exploration from Spain. He didn't depart on his historic voyage until August.


• On April 30, 1789, George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the United States.


• On April 30, 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France.


• On April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide in the Führerbunker in Berlin, one day after they were married.


• On April 30, 1973, President Richard Nixon announced that White House aides H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman had resigned because of the Watergate revelations. Nearly a year later to the day, Nixon announced the release of edited transcripts of his subpoenaed tapes.


• On April 30, 1975, Communist forces seized Saigon in Vietnam, and American newscasts carried footage of South Vietnamese citizens trying to climb on board an American helicopter during the evacuation.

A lot has happened on April 30, and the tradition may be continuing with the outbreak of swine flu expanding to 11 states.