June 26th
Today in 1844,John Tyler took Julia Gardiner as his bride, thus becoming the first American President to marry while in office.
Today in 1924,American troops began leaving the Dominican Republic after eight years of occupation.
Today in 1945,the United Nations Charter was signed by 50 nations in San Francisco.
Today in 1963,President Kennedy visited West Berlin, where he delivered his famous speech expressing solidarity with the city’s residents with his famous declaration: "Ich bin ein Berliner" (“I am a Berliner”).
Today in 1977,Elvis Presley made his final concert appearance in Indianapolis. His last song was “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” He died seven-weeks later.
Today in 1982,the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a limited withdrawal from Beirut of Israeli & Palestine Liberation Organization forces.
Today in 1989,the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty could be imposed for murderers who committed their crimes as young as 16, and for mentally retarded killers.
Today in 1993,President Clinton ordered a missile attack on Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad because of “compelling evidence” Iraqhad plotted to assassinate former President George H.W. Bush.
Today in 1997,the Supreme Court struck down the Communications Decency Act of 1996,which had made it illegal to distribute indecent material on the Internet.
Today in 1997,the Supreme Court upheld state laws that allow for a ban on doctor-assisted suicides.
Today in 1997,Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first book in J. K. Rowling's best-selling series,was published.
Today in 1998,the Supreme Court issued a landmark sexual harassment ruling, putting employers on notice that they can be held responsible for supervisors' misconduct even if they knew nothing about it.
Today in 2000,the Supreme Court gave new power to its landmark Miranda decision of 1966, ruling police still must warn the people they arrest of their "right to remain silent" when questioned.
Today in 2002,for the first time ever,a federal appeals court declared that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because of the words "under God,"which were added by Congress in 1954. The ruling, if allowed to stand, meant schoolchildren can no longer recite the pledge, at least in the nine Western states covered by the court (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state). Similar challenges to the Pledge were filed in 2010 and in 2014, it remains a voluntary behavior.
Today in 2003,the Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas that gender-based sodomy laws are unconstitutional.
Today in 2008,the Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller that the banning of handguns in Washington, D.C. was unconstitutional. In a 5-4 vote, the court decreed that an individual right to gun ownership existed.
Today in 2015,SCOTUS ruled 5-4 that same-sex marriage is a legal right across all states– thereby giving the nation’s legally married gay couples equal federal footing with all other married Americans.
Today in 2017,the Supreme Court said President Trump could proceed with a limited version of his ban on travel from six mostly Muslim countries.