Today in 1513, the Pacific Ocean was discovered by Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa when he crossed the Isthmus of Panama. He named the body of water the South Sea. He was truly just the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
Today in 1789, the first United States Congress submitted 12 amendments to the Constitution. Ten of the those became the Bill of Rights – and everything went into effect the following December.
Today in 1957, 300 U.S. Army troops stood guard as nine black students were escorted to their first full day of classes at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The children had been forced to withdraw two days earlier because of unruly white mobs.
Today in 1978, Melissa Ludtke, a writer for "Sports Illustrated," won the suit she and her editors had filed in U.S. District Court after learning that she was not begin given the same access to the clubhouse and players, as her male colleagues. That led to a federal law was passed that stated men and women should have equal access to the clubhouse. The result was that Major League Baseball could not bar female writers from the locker room after the game.
Today in 1981,the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously confirmed the nomination of Judge Sandra Day O'Connor to the U.S. Supreme Court. She was sworn in on September 25th.
Today in 1997, President Clinton opened the door of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, as he welcomed nine black adults who'd faced hate-filled mobs 40 years earlier – aka the “Little Rock 9.”
Today in 2001, Michael Jordan announced that he would return to the NBA as a player for the Washington Wizards. Jordan became the president of basketball operations for the team on January 19, 2000.
Today in 2017, a woman graduated from the US Marine Corps' Infantry Officer Course for the first time. While her identity was initially kept private, she was later revealed to be Lt. Marina A. Hierl. A second woman – Col. Michelle I. Macander – completed the course June 2018.
Today in 2017, former New York congressman Anthony Weiner sentenced to 21 months in jail for sexting underage girl.