1937. Sadam Hussein, dictator of Iraq for decades is born in a village near the desert town of Tikrit. A U.S.-led invasion topples Sadam from power in 2003. He is excuted more than 3 years later.

1967. Heavyweight boxing champ, Muhammad Ali refuses to be inducted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Ali is stripped of his title and barred from boxingfor three and half a years. The U.S. Supreme Court later overturns his conviction for refusing induction.

2001. California businessman Dennis Tito becomes the world’s first space tourist . Tito lifts off from a Russian rocket with two cosmonauts on a journey to the International Space Station.

And 1950. Jay Leno, comedian and host of NBC’s the Tonight Show, is born in New Rochelle, New York. “You know, essentially, when I heard the new Pope was German. I thought, Oh, my God! I will, can be staffed of first governor. ... I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it, (tapping the desk) ... amazing!”

Today in history, April 28th. Sandy Kozel, the Associated Press.