William McKinley (January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901)

On this day in history, April 20, 1898, President William McKinley
asked Congress to declare war on Spain.

The declaration requested by the 25th U.S. president was in
response to an ongoing conflict between Spain and Cuba, the
latter located less 100 miles off the coast of Florida, as that
island country struggled for independence from Spain.

The U.S. Office of the Historian said on April 20, Congress
passed a joint resolution that acknowledged Cuban
independence.

Congress also authorized McKinley to use whatever military
measures he deemed necessary to guarantee Cuba’s
independence, the U.S. Office of the Historian noted.

  
Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964)

Gen. Douglas MacArthur delivered his farewell address to
Congress on this day in history, April 19, 1951, uttering the
famous line, "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away."

Eight days before the speech, MacArthur had been relieved
of his duties as general of the U.S. Army by President Harry
S. Truman — putting an end to his storied military career. 

President Harry S Truman (left) relieved General
Douglas MacArthur (right) as commander of
United Nations forces in Korea on April 11, 1951.
 

SANDY KOZEL

    
    

Titanic on sea trials, 2 April 1912.

Titanic Sinking, engraving by Willy Stöwer.

(FOXNEWS) – Opening Day welcomes the new spring baseball
season each year, a uniquely America tradition steeped in
history and fanfare.

And on this day in history, April 14, 1910, President William
Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw out the
first pitch at a Major League Baseball game (above). 

Taft was first in a long line of presidents to have the honor
and nearly. every president since Taft has thrown out the
first pitch, with the exception of Jimmy Carter, Donald
Trump and Joe Biden, according to National Geographic.
(Biden did throw out the first pitch as Barack Obama’s
vice president.)

The historic toss on opening day featured Walter Johnson,
the Washington Senators’ starting pitcher against the
Philadelphia Athletics at National Park in the nation’s
capital.

Johnson, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame
in 1936, took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving
up a double to Baker. It was Philadelphia’s only hit in the
Senators’ 3-0 win. 

William Howard Taft
(September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930)

Walter Perry Johnson  (1887 – 1946)
Nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train"