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Today is Wednesday, May 22, the 142nd day of 2002. There are 223 days left in the year. 

Highlight: 

On May 22, 1972, President Nixon began a visit to the Soviet Union, during which he and Kremlin leaders signed the SALT I arms limitation treaty. 

On this date: 

In 1761, the first life insurance policy in the United States was issued, in Philadelphia. 

In 1813, composer Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig, Germany. 

In 1868, the “Great Train Robbery” took place near Marshfield, Ind., as seven members of the Reno gang made off with $96,000 in loot. 

In 1900, The Associated Press (founded in 1848) was incorporated in New York as a non-profit news cooperative. 

In 1939, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini signed a “Pact of Steel” committing Germany and Italy to a military alliance. 

In 1947, the “Truman Doctrine” was enacted as Congress appropriated military and economic aid for Greece and Turkey. 

In 1969, the lunar module of Apollo 10 flew to within nine miles of the moon’s surface in a dress rehearsal for the first lunar landing. 

In 1972, the island nation of Ceylon became the republic of Sri Lanka. 

In 1990, after years of conflict, pro-Western North Yemen and pro-Soviet South Yemen merged to form a single nation, the Republic of Yemen. 

In 1990, boxer Rocky Graziano died in New York at age 71. 

Ten years ago: After a reign lasting nearly 30 years, Johnny Carson hosted NBC’s “Tonight Show” for the last time, telling his audience, “I bid you a very heartfelt good night.” (Carson was succeeded by Jay Leno.) 

Five years ago:  

In a case that drew national attention, Kelly Flinn, the Air Force’s first female bomber pilot certified for combat, accepted a general discharge, thereby avoiding court-martial on charges of adultery, lying and disobeying an order. The defense began presenting its case in the Oklahoma City bombing trial of Timothy McVeigh. 

One year ago:  

Ford Motor Co. said it planned to spend more than $2 billion to replace up to 13 million Firestone tires on its vehicles because of safety concerns. 

Today’s Birthdays:  

Movie reviewer Judith Crist is 80. Singer Charles Aznavour is 78. Actor Michael Constantine is 75. Conductor Peter Nero is 68. Actor-director Richard Benjamin is 64. Actor Frank Converse is 64. Actor Michael Sarrazin is 62. Former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw is 62. Actor Paul Winfield is 61. Actress Barbara Parkins is 60. Songwriter Bernie Taupin is 52. Actor Al Corley is 46. Singer Morrissey is 43. Country musician Dana Williams (Diamond Rio) is 41. Rock musician Jesse Valenzuela is 40. Rhythm-and-blues singer Johnny Gill (New Edition) is 36. Rock musician Dan Roberts (Crash Test Dummies) is 35. Model Naomi Campbell is 32. Actress Alison Eastwood is 30. Singer Donell Jones is 29. Actress A.J. Langer is 28.