0412 Today in History

April 12th, 1945 President Franklin Roosevelt dies of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, GA, at age 63. Let me assert my firm belief. That the only thing we have to fear is. Fear itself. Roosevelt, who led America through the Great Depression and most of World War Two, served a record 12 years in office. Vice President Harry Truman succeeds Roosevelt in the White House 1861 start of the American Civil War. Confederate forces fire on the Union Garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC Fighting between the North and South lasts 4 years with more than half a million deaths. 1961 Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to fly in space, orbiting the Earth once before making a safe landing. 1981. America’s first space shuttle named Colombia blasts off from Cape Canaveral, FL on its maiden flight. More than two decades later, Columbia meets a tragic end. It disintegrates on re-entry, killing its 7 passenger crew and 1947. My name is Dave Letterman. I’m the host of the Late Show. America’s most successful C student. David Letterman. The late night TV talk show host is born in Indianapolis Today in History. April 12th. Mike Gracia, The Associated Press.