1909 - Explorers Robert Peary and Matthew A. Henson lead the first successful expedition to reach the North Pole. 1896 - The first modern Olympic Games opens in Athens, Greece, land of the ancient games , with athletes from 14 countries. 1874 - Harry Houdini, the magician who gained world fame for his escape acts , is born in Budapest, and in what’s now Hungary.

1937 - “And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee” Merle Haggard, the country music singer whose tunes include “Okie From Muskogee”, is born in Bakersfield, California. And 1998 - “Stand by your man and show the world you love him” Tammy Wynette, known as the First Lady of Country Music from the 60s to the 80s, dies in Nashville at age 55.

Today in History, April 6th. Ross Simpson, the Associated Press.