Today is Tuesday, May eighth, the 128th day of 2001. There are 237 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May eighth, 1945, President Truman announced in a radio address that World War Two had ended in Europe. On this date: In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River. In 1846, the first major battle of the Mexican War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas, resulting in victory for General Zachary Taylor's forces. In 1884, the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, was born near Lamar, Missouri. In 1886, Atlanta pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invented the flavor syrup for "Coca-Cola." In 1944, the first "eye bank" was established, in New York City. In 1958, Vice President Nixon was shoved, stoned, booed and spat upon by anti-American protesters in Lima, Peru. In 1970, construction workers broke up an anti-war protest on New York's Wall Street. In 1973, militant American Indians who'd held the South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for ten weeks surrendered. In 1978, David R. Berkowitz pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom to the "Son of Sam" killings that had terrified New Yorkers. In 1987, Gary Hart, dogged by questions about his personal life, including his relationship with Miami model Donna Rice, withdrew from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Ten years ago: CIA Director William H. Webster announced his retirement; he was eventually succeeded by Robert Gates. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of American forces in the Persian Gulf War, received a hero's welcome as he addressed Congress. Concert pianist Rudolf Serkin died in Guilford, Vermont, at age 88. Five years ago: Postal inspectors wrapped up a two-year sting operation in 36 states against the nation's biggest child pornography ring. South Africa took another step from apartheid to democracy by adopting a constitution that guaranteed equal rights for blacks and whites. Julie Andrews declined her Tony Award nomination after her show, "Victor/Victoria," was snubbed for best musical. One year ago: The remains of Cardinal John O'Connor were entombed inside New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral after a funeral Mass that drew thousands of mourners, including President Clinton. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to ban discrimination based on weight or height. Today's Birthdays: Comedian Don Rickles is 75. Environmentalist Sir David Attenborough is 75. Author Peter Benchley is 61. Singer John Fred (John Fred and His Playboy Band) is 60. Actor James Mitchum is 60. Jockey Hall-of-Famer Angel Cordero Junior is 59. Singer Toni Tennille is 58. Jazz musician Keith Jarrett is 56. Singer Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind and Fire) is 50. Rock musician Chris Frantz (Talking Heads) is 50. Rockabilly singer Billy Burnette is 48. Actor David Keith is 47. Actor Stephen Furst is 47. Rock musician Alex Van Halen is 46. Actress Melissa Gilbert is 37. Rock musician Dave Rowntree (Blur) is 37. Country musician Del Gray is 33. Rock singer Darren Hayes (Savage Garden) is 29. Singer Enrique Iglesias is 26. Actress Julia Whelan ("Once and Again") is 16. "The worst-tempered people I've ever met were people who knew they were wrong." -- Wilson Mizner, American playwright (1876-1933). (Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)