Today in History: March 5

The Boston massacre in which British troops opened fire on a crowd, killing five people and inflaming American opinion. Original Artwork: Picture by Paul Revere (1735 - 1818). (Photo by MPI/Getty Images) — In 1770, the Boston Massacre took place as British soldiers who’d been taunted by a crowd of colonists opened fire, killing five people. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)

Adolf Hitler, lower left, addresses 25,000 stormtroopers from an improvised rostrum on the steps of the Atlas Museum in the Lustgarten of Berlin, Germany, on the third anniversary of National Socialism's rise to power on Jan. 30, 1936. In his speech, Hitler reiterated Germany's will to peace. The Nazi Party leader was appointed Chancellor of Germany on Jan. 30, 1933. (AP Photo) — In 1933, in German parliamentary elections, the Nazi Party won 44 percent of the vote; the Nazis joined with a conservative nationalist party to gain a slender majority in the Reichstag. Adolf Hitler, lower left, addresses 25,000 stormtroopers from an improvised rostrum on the steps of the Atlas Museum in the Lustgarten of Berlin, Germany, on the third anniversary of National Socialism’s rise to power on Jan. 30, 1936. In his speech, Hitler reiterated Germany’s will to peace. The Nazi Party leader was appointed Chancellor of Germany on Jan. 30, 1933. (AP Photo)

On June 18, 1940, with the World War II Battle of Britain looming, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill urged his countrymen to conduct themselves so that future generations would say, "this was their finest hour." (AP Photo) — On March 5, 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his “Iron Curtain” speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, in which he said: “From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an ‘iron curtain’ has descended across the continent, allowing police governments to rule Eastern Europe.”聽 (AP Photo)

Russian Communist Party leader and lawmaker Gennady Zyuganov, foreground left, speaks to the media as communist party supporters holds portraits of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and red flags marking the 61st anniversary of his death in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 5, 2014. Stalin led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. Communists credit him with leading the country to victory in World War II while others condemn the brutal purges that killed millions. The sign at left reads "without Stalin there could not be Russia." (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) — In 1953, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin died after three decades in power.聽 (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

In 1955, Elvis Presley made his television debut on 鈥淟ouisiana Hayride鈥� carried by KSLA-TV Shreveport. A file photo of a young Elvis Presley on the stage of the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport, La. (AP Photo,file)

The entire Grand Ole Opry company crowds onstage on March 9, 1963 as Opry Manager Ott Devine (at podium) delivers a message honoring five members killed in accidents last week. It was the same old rollicking show, but onlookers backstage saw through the facade. During Minnie Pearl聮s (at Devine聮s left) performance night, she raced offstage at the end of her act with a typical roar of laughter, then burst into tears in the wings. (AP Photo/Brian Calvert) — In 1963, country music performers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins died in the crash of their plane, a Piper Comanche, near Camden, Tennessee, along with pilot Randy Hughes (Cline’s manager). (AP Photo/Brian Calvert)

In 1966, BOAC Flight 911, a Boeing 707, crashed into Japan’s Mount Fuji after breaking up in severe turbulence; all 124 people on board were killed. Rescue workers gather around bits of wreckage, lower left, at scene of the crash of a BOAC 707 jet on Mt. Fuji in Japan, March 5, 1966. All 124 persons aboard were killed in the crash. In background is part of Jetliner. (AP Photo)

Officials remove the body of actor-comedian John Belushi from a bungalow at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles, Ca., where Belushi's body was found dead, Friday, March 5, 1982. Belushi, 33, died of an accidental drug overdose. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon) — In 1982, comedian John Belushi was found dead of a drug overdose in a rented bungalow in Hollywood; he was 33.聽 (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

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Today is Tuesday, March 5, the 64th day of 2019. There are 301 days left in the year.

Today鈥檚 Highlight in History:

On March 5, 1963, country music performers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins died in the crash of their plane, a Piper Comanche, near Camden, Tennessee, along with pilot Randy Hughes (Cline鈥檚 manager).

On this date:

In 1770, the Boston Massacre took place as British soldiers who鈥檇 been taunted by a crowd of colonists opened fire, killing five people.

In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate, with Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presiding. Johnson, the first U.S. president to be impeached, was accused of 鈥渉igh crimes and misdemeanors鈥� stemming from his attempt to fire Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton; the trial ended on May 26 with Johnson鈥檚 acquittal.

In 1933, in German parliamentary elections, the Nazi Party won 44 percent of the vote; the Nazis joined with a conservative nationalist party to gain a slender majority in the Reichstag.

In 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his 鈥淚ron Curtain鈥� speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, in which he said: 鈥淔rom Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an 鈥榠ron curtain鈥� has descended across the continent, allowing police governments to rule Eastern Europe.鈥�

In 1953, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin died after three decades in power. Composer Sergei Prokofiev died in Moscow at age 61.

In 1955, Elvis Presley made his television debut on 鈥淟ouisiana Hayride鈥� carried by KSLA-TV Shreveport.

In 1966, BOAC Flight 911, a Boeing 707, crashed into Japan鈥檚 Mount Fuji after breaking up in severe turbulence; all 124 people on board were killed.

In 1970, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons went into effect after 43 nations ratified it.

In 1982, comedian John Belushi was found dead of a drug overdose in a rented bungalow in Hollywood; he was 33.

In 1998, NASA scientists said enough water was frozen in the loose soil of the moon to support a lunar base and perhaps, one day, a human colony.

In 2002, President George W. Bush slapped punishing tariffs of eight to 30 percent on several types of imported steel in an effort to aid the ailing U.S. industry.

In 2003, In a blunt warning to the United States and Britain, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Russia said they would block any attempt to get U.N. approval for war against Iraq.

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama hosted a White House summit where he pumped allies and skeptics alike for ways to overhaul the nation鈥檚 costly and frustrating health care system. As thousands demonstrated outside, California Supreme Court justices listened to legal arguments over the passage of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. NATO agreed, after intense internal debate, to restore normal relations with Russia seven months after it had frozen ties in response to Moscow鈥檚 invasion of Georgia.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama鈥檚 choice to lead the Justice Department鈥檚 Civil Rights Division, Debo Adegbile (DAY鈥�-boh uh-DAYG鈥�-bih-lay), was blocked by bipartisan Senate opposition over his legal work at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal, who鈥檚 serving life in prison in the 1981 shooting death of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. The former Internal Revenue Service official at the heart of the controversy over the agency鈥檚 targeting of conservative groups, Lois Lerner, once again refused to answer questions at a House hearing.

One year ago: House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republican allies of President Donald Trump pleaded with him to back away from his threatened tariffs, but Trump responded, 鈥淲e鈥檙e not backing down.鈥� Los Angeles police arrested Terry Bryant, 47, on charges that he stole Frances McDormand鈥檚 Oscar trophy after the Academy Awards a night earlier; the award was returned to the actress. The Nielsen company announced that the Academy Awards viewership had plunged to a record low of 26.5 million, down 20 percent from a year earlier. Longtime Republican Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi said he would resign because of health problems. (Cindy Hyde-Smith was appointed to succeed Cochran until a November special election, which she won.)