Today's Highlight in History:
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision, which found that racially segregated public schools were inherently unequal, and therefore unconstitutional.
On this date:
In 1792, the New York Stock Exchange had its origins as a group of brokers met under a tree on Wall Street.
In 1875, the first Kentucky Derby was run; the winner was Aristides.
In 1938, Congress passed the Second Vinson Act, providing for a strengthened U.S. Navy.
In 1938, the radio quiz show "Information, Please!" made its debut on the NBC Blue Network.
In 1939, Britain's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrived in Quebec on the first visit to Canada by reigning British sovereigns.
In 1946, President Truman seized control of the nation's railroads, delaying
- but not preventing - a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen.
In 1973, the Senate began its televised hearings into the Watergate scandal.
In 1978, women were included in the White House honor guard for the first time as President Carter welcomed Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
In 1980, rioting that claimed 18 lives erupted in Miami after an all-white jury in Tampa, Fla., acquitted four former Miami police officers of fatally beating black insurance executive Arthur McDuffie.
In 1987, 37 American sailors were killed when an Iraqi warplane attacked the U.S. Navy frigate Stark in the Persian Gulf. (Iraq and the U.S. called the attack a mistake.)
Ten years ago: Leaders of the Group of Eight nations ended their summit in Birmingham, England, with a plea to Pakistan not to respond in kind to India's five nuclear explosions. New York Yankees pitcher David Wells became the 13th player in modern major league baseball history to throw a perfect game as he retired all 27 batters he faced in a 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
