Today is Saturday, May 29, the 150th day of 2004. There are 216 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On May 29, 1765, Patrick Henry denounced the Stamp Act before Virginia’s House of Burgesses, responding to a cry of “Treason!” by declaring, “If this be treason, make the most of it!”

On this date:

In 1790, Rhode Island became the 13th original colony to ratify the United States Constitution.

In 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state of the union.

In 1903, comedian Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, England.

In 1917, the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was born in Brookline, Mass.

In 1932, World War I veterans began arriving in Washington, D.C., to demand cash bonuses they weren’t scheduled to receive for another 13 years.

In 1942, Bing Crosby, the Ken Darby Singers and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra recorded Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” in Los Angeles for Decca Records.

In 1942, actor John Barrymore died in Hollywood at age 60.

In 1943, Norman Rockwell’s portrait of “Rosie the Riveter” appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.

In 1953, Mount Everest was conquered as Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tensing Norkay of Nepal became the first climbers to reach the summit.

In 1998, Republican elder statesman Barry Goldwater died in Paradise Valley, Ariz., at age 89.

Ten years ago: Khallid Abdul Muhammad, a former spokesman for the Nation of Islam, was shot and wounded after delivering a speech at the University of California, Riverside; a defrocked Nation of Islam minister, James Edward Bess, was charged. (Bess was later convicted of attempted murder and assault and sentenced to life in prison.) Former East German leader Erich Honecker died in Chile at age 81.

Five years ago: The space shuttle Discovery completed the first-ever docking with the international space station. Olusegun Obasanjo became Nigeria’s first civilian president in 15 years, ending a string of military regimes.

One year ago: President Bush, in a wide-ranging interview with reporters at the White House, repeated his defense of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, and hinted that relations with France remained scarred over its opposition to the war. AOL Time Warner and Microsoft announced a settlement in their battle over Internet browsers, with the software giant paying AOL $750 million.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Clifton James is 83. Former Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent is 66. Race car driver Al Unser Sr.is 65. CBS News Correspondent Bob Simon is 63. Actor Kevin Conway is 62. Actor Helmut Berger is 60. Rock singer Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) is 59. Actor Anthony Geary is 57. Singer Rebbie Jackson is 54. Movie composer Danny Elfman is 51. Rock musician Michael Porcaro (Toto) is 49. Singer LaToya Jackson is 48. Actress Annette Bening is 46. Actor Rupert Everett is 45. Rock musician Mel Gaynor is 45. Actor Adrian Paul is 45. Singer Melissa Etheridge is 43. Actress Lisa Whelchel is 41. Actress Tracey Bregman is 41. Rock musician Noel Gallagher (Oasis) is 37. Singer Jayski McGowan (Quad City DJ’s) is 37. Rock musician Chan Kinchla (Blues Traveler) is 35. Rock musician Mark Lee (Third Day) is 31. Singer Melanie Brown (Spice Girls) is 29. Rapper Playa Poncho is 29.

Thought for Today: “What makes us discontented with our condition is the absurdly exaggerated idea we have of the happiness of others.” – Anonymous.