Today in 1789, New Jersey became the first state to ratify Bill of Rights.
Today in 1866, Howard University was founded in Washington, D.C.
Today in 1914, passport photos were first required by the U.S.
Today in 1921,the film, "The Sheik," starring Rudolph Valentino,was released.
Today in 1946, the Nuremberg trials began as Nazi war criminals faced justice for their crimes.
Today in 1947, a royal wedding was held when Princess Elizabeth – who would be Queen in four years – and Lt. Philip Mountbatten were married.
Today in 1962, USSR agreed to remove bombers from Cuba, and the US agreed to lift the blockade.
Today in 1967, the Census Clock at the Commerce Department ticked past 200-million.
Today in 1969, Apollo 12’s astronauts Charles Conrad and Alan Bean made the second landing on the moon.
Today in 1982, Drew Barrymore hosted “Saturday Night Live.”She was age 7.
Today in 1983, ABC aired the film, “The Day After,”which depicted nuclear war in the US and what the aftermath would be like. It was watched by over 100-million people.
Today in 1984, 35 years and 11 months after the very first McDonald's hamburger was sold,the 50-billionth burger was made by Edward Rensi, the president of Mickey D's. The milestone was celebrated at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.
Today in 1992, fire seriously damaged the northwest side of Windsor Castle, the favorite weekend home of Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Second.
Today in 1993, the United States Senate ended a filibuster against the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases, and passed it by a vote of 63-to-36; the Senate also approved legislation implementing the North American Free Trade Agreement, 61-to-38.
Today in 1994, then 53-year-old David Crosby received a liver transplant.
Today in 1995, Olympic figure skating champion Sergei Grinkov died of a heart attack while on the ice in Lake Placid, New York.
Today in 1995, BBC Television broadcast an interview with Princess Diana, who admitted being unfaithful to Prince Charles after her marriage was so broken – and when she knew Charles was still involved with Camilla.
Today in 1998,"American History X"opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in 1999, a day after violent anti-American protests in Greece, President Clinton sought to heal old wounds byacknowledging the United States had failed its "obligation to support democracy"when it backed Greek's harsh military junta during the Cold War.
Today in 2001, the Justice Department headquarters building was renamed the Robert F. Kennedy building by President George W. Bush. The event was held on what would have been Kennedy's 76th birthday.
Today in 2004, U2 made up their own rules at “Saturday Night Live”by playing three songs to close the show. The band started a final song as the credits roll.
Today in 2006, News Corporation bowed to pressure and killed J. Simpson's planned book, “If I Did It,”in which he “speculates how he would have killed his ex-wife” if, of course, he had killed her – as well as the two-part FOX special promoting it.
Today in 2012, Toshiba unveiled a robot designed to help in nuclear disasters.
Today in 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to civil rights activist Bayard Rustin and 16 others including former President Bill Clinton.
Today in 2014, nearly five-million illegal migrants in the United States had the threat of deportation deferred, after President Barack Obama announced sweeping immigration changes made by executive action. The lack of action by the Democrat-controlled Congress in that aftermath is what’s led to the current fight over the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).
Today in 2015, according to data published in journal "Sciences Advances,"more than half of all trees in Amazon fores tat risk of extinction.
Today in 2017, Atlanta's Georgia Dome, once the world's largest covered stadium,was destroyed in a controlled implosion.
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