September 20th
- Today in 1664,Maryland passed thefirst anti-amalgamation law to stop intermarriage of English women and black men.
- Today in 1850,the slave trade was abolished in DC,though slavery was allowed to continue.
- Today in 1881,Chester A. Arthurwas sworn in as the 21stpresident of the United States.
- Today in 1952,"The Jackie Gleason Show"debuted on CBS-TV.
- Today in 1958,an apparently deranged black woman – later identified as Isola Ware Curry – stabbed Martin Luther King Jr.in the chest at a New York City department store.
- Today in 1963,President Kennedyproposed a joint US-Soviet expedition to the moon.
- Today in 1973,Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggsat the infamous "Battle of the Sexes" tennis matchat the Houston Astrodome.
- Today in 1984,NBC-TV debuted"The Cosby Show." The show went on to become one of the most popular sitcoms on television for eight years.
- Today in 1984,"Who's The Boss?,” starring Tony Danza and Judith Light,debuted on ABC-TV.
- Today in 1985,Walt Disney Worldwelcomed its 200-millionth guest.
- Today in 1988,American Greg Louganis took the Gold medal in the three-meter springboard diving competition at the Seoul Olympics. He'd hit his head on thespringboard during preliminary competition.
- Today in 1995,the US Housevoted to drop the national speed limit. This allowed the states to decide their own speed limits.
- Today in 1996,President Clintonannounced his signing of the Defense of Marriage Act(aka DOMA, a bill outlawing homosexual marriages), but said it should not be used as an excuse for discrimination, violence or intimidation against gays and lesbians.
- Today in 1996,the movie, "First Wives Club," starring Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler,opened in theaters nationwide.
- Today in 1998,after 2,632 consecutive games, Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Oriolessat out a game against the New York Yankees, ending a 16-year run.
- Today in 1999,Lawrence Russell Brewerbecame the second white supremacist to be convicted in the 1998 dragging death of James Byrd Jr.in Jasper, Texas. Brewer was later sentenced to death – and executed in 2011.
- Today in 2000,Independent Counsel Robert Rayannounced the end of the Whitewater investigation, saying there was insufficient evidence to warrant charges against President Clinton and his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
- Today in 2001,inan address to a joint session of Congressand the American people, U.S. President George W. Bush officially declared a "war on terror."
- Today in 2004,CBS News and Dan Rather, who reported on the memos claiming George W. Bush received special treatment in the National Guard,acknowledged that they weren’t able to prove the documents' authenticity.
- Today in 2011,United Statesended its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time.
- Today in 2011,"New Girl", starring Zooey Deschanel,debuted on FOX.
- Today in 2013,the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrisewas boarded by the Russian military.
- Today in 2013,Alex Rodriquezset a new MLB record with 24 Grand Slam home runs for the New York Yankees.
- Today in 2014,Emma Watsondelivered an address to a standing ovationat UN Headquarters in New York City, helping launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which calls for men to advocate for gender equality.
- Today in 2015,Pope Francis met Fidel Castro in Havana,on the first day of his tour of Cuba.
- Today in 2015,Martin Shkreli, CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals,confirmed raising the price of the toxoplasmosisdrug Daraprim by 5,000% – taking the vital HIV medication from a price of $13.50 per pill…to more than $750 per pill.
- Today in 2016,Black American Keith Lamont Scottwas shot dead by a black police officerin Charlotte, North Carolina, provoking violent protests in the city.
- Today in 2017,Iran’s President Hassan Rouhanicriticized President Donald Trump for his comments about Iranin his own UN speech – calling it an “embarrassment.”
- Today in 2017,Hurricane Mariamade landfall on Puerto Rico as a category 4 hurricane.