On this day in history - May 29

What Happened On This Day – May 29

• 1999 Olusegun Obasanjo wins Nigeria's first free elections in 16 years

  The former Nigerian Army general and military ruler oversaw a democratization process that defines the country's political system to the present day.

• 1996 Benjamin Netanyahu becomes Israel's prime minister

  The conservative politician is criticized for hampering the peace process that former prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, had promoted.

• 1953 Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquer Mount Everest

  The first successful ascent of the world's highest mountain came after Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans had come within 100 meters of the summit just three days previously.

• 1942 Bing Crosby records White Christmas

  Crosby's rendition of Irving Berlin's song became the most successful of his career and the best-selling Christmas single in history.

• 1913 Igor Stravinsky's ballet Le Sacre du printemps is premiered

  he performance sparked a riot in the audience as many felt its irregular beat and the percussive character was a sacrilege against music. Today, it is considered one of the key works of 20th-century art music.