Today is Tuesday, April 6, the 97th day of 2004. There are 269 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On April 6, 1909, explorers Robert E. Peary and Matthew A. Henson became the first men to reach the North Pole. (The claim, disputed by skeptics, was upheld in 1989 by the Navigation Foundation.)

On this date:

In 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized by Joseph Smith in Fayette, N.Y.

In 1862, the Civil War Battle of Shiloh began in Tennessee.

In 1892, author, journalist, broadcaster and world traveler Lowell Thomas was born in Woodington, Ohio.

In 1896, the first modern Olympic games formally opened in Athens, Greece.

In 1917, Congress approved a declaration of war against Germany.

In 1954, four weeks after being attacked on the air by Edward R. Murrow, Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., delivered a filmed response on CBS’ “See It Now” in which he charged that Murrow had, in the past, “engaged in propaganda for Communist causes.”

In 1965, the United States launched the Early Bird communications satellite.

In 1971, Russian-born composer Igor Stravinsky died in New York City.

In 1992, science-fiction author Isaac Asimov died in New York at age 72.

In 1998, country singer Tammy Wynette died at her Nashville, Tenn., home at age 55.

Ten years ago: Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun announced his retirement after 24 years. The presidents of Rwanda and Burundi were killed in a mysterious plane crash near Rwanda’s capital; widespread violence and genocide erupted in Rwanda over claims the plane had been shot down. A Palestinian suicide-bomber killed seven Israelis in an attack on a bus in Afula.

Five years ago: Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic declared a unilateral cease-fire in his campaign to crush rebels in Kosovo; Western leaders called the move a sham and pledged to press ahead with airstrikes.

One year ago: U.S. forces encircled and began flying into Baghdad’s international airport. British forces in the south made their deepest push into Basra, Iraq’s second largest city.

Today’s Birthdays: Composer-conductor Andre Previn is 75. Actor Ivan Dixon is 73. Country singer Merle Haggard is 67. Actor Billy Dee Williams is 67. Actor Roy Thinnes is 66. Movie director Barry Levinson is 62. Actor John Ratzenberger is 57. Actress Marilu Henner is 52. Figure skater Janet Lynn is 51. Actor Michael Rooker is 49. Actress Ari Meyers is 35. Actor Paul Rudd is 35. Actor Jason Hervey is 32. Actor Zach Braff is 29. Actress Candace Cameron is 28. Actor Bret Harrison is 22.

Thought for Today: “After the age of 80, everything reminds you of something else.” – Lowell Thomas, American author and broadcaster (1892-1981).