July 24th
Today in 1651,Anthony Johnson,a free African American, received grant of 250-acres in Virginia. A black Angolan, he achieved freedom in the Colony of Virginia after serving his term of indenture. He became one of the first property owners and slaveholders of African birth there. Held as an indentured servant in 1621, he earned his freedom after several years, and was granted land by the colony. He had arrived in 1621 – but in 1619, all indentured servants (white or Black) had specified periods of servitude ranging from four to seven years and received precisely the same treatment and rewards. At the conclusion of their respective periods of servitude, each was entitled to freedom, citizenship and a land grant of 25 to 50 acres. The first legal slave owner, he also owned 4 white servants, and one black.
Today in 1847,Brigham Young and his Mormon followers arrived at Salt Lake City, Utah.
Today in 1929,President Herbert Hoover unveiled the Kellogg-Briand Pact, which renounced war.An international agreement, signatory states promised not to use war to resolve "disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them. It was signed officially on August 27th of that year.
Today in 1969,the "Apollo Eleven" astronauts – two of whom had been the first men to set foot on the moon–splashed down safely in the Pacific.
Today in 1974,the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that President Nixon had to turn over subpoenaed White House tape recordings to the Watergate special prosecutor.
Today in 1975,an "Apollo"spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific, completing a mission, which included the first-ever docking with a "Soyuz" capsule from the Soviet Union.
Today in 1979,a Miami jury convicted serial killer Theodore “Ted” Bundy of first-degree murder in the slayings of Florida State University sorority sisters Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy.
Today in 1986,a federal jury in San Francisco convicted former Navy radioman Jerry A. Whitworth of espionage. He was sentenced to 365 years in prison for his role in a Soviet spy ring.
Today in 1997,retired Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan died in Arlington, Virginia, at the age of 91.
Today in 1998,a gunman burst into the U.S. Capitol, opening fire and killing two police officers– Officer Jacob J. Chestnut, Jr., and Detective John M. Gibson. The shooter was later arrested for the attack – though never charged due to his apparent mental instability. One contentious issue of the shooter’s incarceration has been the issue of forced medication. Weston had refused to take any medications voluntarily. That is, until May 2001, when a federal judge authorized doctors to treat WestoninA panel from a federal appeals court ruled in July 2001 that Weston could be forced to take the drugs, which he was forced to do for 120 days. He remains in Butner Federal Correctional Institution indefinitely.
Today in 2005,Lance Armstrong retired after winning a record seventh Tour de France(though he was stripped of all titles for doping in 2012).
Today in 2015,President Barack Obama began an historic two-day visit to Kenya.
Today in 2017,President Donald Trump railed against his enemies and promoted his political agenda in a speech to a national Boy Scout gathering in West Virginia. Far from what he must have expected, it brought an angry reaction from some parents and former Scouts from both parties. The Boy Scouts later apologized.
Today in 2017,Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, released a statement saying he did not collude with Russia after meeting with Senate investigators.