|
 Today's
highlight in history:
On June 17, 1775, the Revolutionary War Battle of Bunker Hill took place near Boston. The battle, which actually occurred on Breed's Hill, was a costly victory for the British, who suffered heavy losses while dislodging the rebels.
On this date:
In 1856, the Republican Party, meeting in Philadelphia, nominated John Charles Fremont to be its presidential candidate. Fremont ended up losing to James Buchanan.
In 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor aboard the French ship Isere.
In 1928, Amelia Earhart embarked on a trans-Atlantic flight from Newfoundland to Wales with pilots Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon, becoming the first woman to make the trip as a passenger.
In 1944, the Republic of Iceland was established.
In 1948, a United Air Lines DC-6 crashed near Mount Carmel, Pa., killing all 43 people on board.
In 1957, mob underboss Frank Scalice was shot to death at a produce market in New York.
In 1961, Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West while his troupe was in Paris.
In 1963, the Supreme Court, in Abington School District v. Schempp, struck down rules requiring the recitation of the Lord's Prayer or reading of Biblical verses in public schools.
In 1971, the United States and Japan signed a treaty under which Okinawa would revert to Japanese control following America's postwar occupation.
In 1972, President Nixon's eventual downfall began with the arrest of five burglars inside Democratic national headquarters in Washington's Watergate complex.
Ten years ago: Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto welcomed a rare U.S. intervention in currency markets to support the sinking yen. The Senate snuffed out Congress' first bill to curb teen smoking, with Democrats accusing Republicans of being owned by Big Tobacco, and Republicans charging the measure was laden with too many amendments.
[to top of second column]
 |
Five years ago: A federal appeals court ruled the government properly withheld names and other details about hundreds of foreigners who were detained in the months after the Sept. 11 attacks. The Justice Department issued a directive banning routine racial and ethnic profiling at all 70 federal agencies with law enforcement powers. English soccer star David Beckham was sold to Real Madrid by Manchester United for a $41 million transfer fee.
One year ago: Thirty-five people were killed in the bombing of a police academy bus in Kabul, Afghanistan; the Taliban claimed responsibility. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swore in a new government and outlawed Hamas militias. Angel Cabrera held off Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk by a stroke to capture the U.S. Open. Italian designer Gianfranco Ferre, known as the "architect of fashion," died in Milan at age 62.
Today's birthdays: Actor Peter Lupus is 76. Singer Barry Manilow is 62. Comedian Joe Piscopo is 57. Actor Mark Linn-Baker is 54. Musician Philip Chevron (The Pogues) is 51. Actor Jon Gries (gryz) is 51. Movie producer-director-writer Bobby Farrelly is 50. Actor Thomas Haden Church is 47. Actor Greg Kinnear is 45. Actress Kami Cotler (TV: "The Waltons") is 43. Olympic gold-medal speed skater Dan Jansen is 43. Actor Jason Patric is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kevin Thornton is 39. Actor-comedian Will Forte is 38. Latin pop singer Paulina Rubio is 37. Tennis player Venus Williams is 28. Actor-rapper Herculeez (Herculeez and Big Tyme) is 25. Actor Damani Roberts is 12.
Thought for today: "During my 87 years I have witnessed a whole succession of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away with the need for character in the individual or the ability to think."
-- Bernard M. Baruch, American businessman and statesman (1870-1965)
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
 |
