Today in 1852, “The New York Lantern” published the first cartoon showing the character "Uncle Sam," based on a real U.S. officer, Samuel Wilson, who served in the war of 1812.
Today in 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate.
Today in 1906, American suffragist Susan B. Anthony died in Rochester, New York.
Today in 1942, Julia Flikke of the Nurse Corps became the first woman colonel in the U.S. Army.
Today in 1974, the Senate voted 54-33 to restore the death penalty.
Today in 1997, thousands of people reported witnessing a huge carpenter’s square-shaped UFO including the Arizona Republican governor Fife Symington. The phenomenon became known as the Phoenix Lights.
Today in 1998, details of President Clinton's deposition testimony in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case against him were published in “The Washington Post.”
Today in 2009, the Obama administration announced it would abandon the Bush administration’s term of ‘enemy combatant’ for the prisoners at Guantánamo Bay.
Today in 2012, Encyclopedia Britannica announced that it would no longer publish printed versions of its encyclopedia.
Today in 2018, “National Geographic” magazine admitted its past coverage was racist in an issue to mark 50 years since the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.