Today in 1871, the tallest couple in the world was married. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Bates were 7’2” and 7’5,” respectively.
Today in 1898, the United States Navy Hospital Corps was established.
Today in 1957, the Tuskegee boycott began. The goal? The invalidation of Act 140 of the Alabama legislature, which, through boundary shifts, disenfranchised nearly all the black voters in the city of Tuskegee, Alabama.
Today in 1972, five men were arrested at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington’s Watergate office complex, after breaking in to steal files and wiretap phones. It was the beginning of the end for Richard Nixon’s presidency.
Today in 1991, President Zachary Taylor’s body was exhumed to test how he died. At issue were long-standing rumors that he’d been poisoned. The results were ultimately inconclusive.
Today in 1994, 95-million Americans watched on television as the slow, eight-hour police chase of O.J. Simpson in a white Bronco as it wound through the L.A. highways. After the chase, Simpson was arrested and officially charged with the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
Today in 1998, Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto welcomed a rare U.S. intervention in currency markets to support the sinking yen.
Today in 2015, nine people were shot and killed inside Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, by a 21-year-old gunman. That gunman was soon arrested and ultimately plead guilty to all nine state charges in order to avoid a second death sentence and was sentenced to life imprisonment for each, clearing the way for his eventual federal execution.
Today in 2015, the US Treasury announced that the image of Alexander Hamilton would be replaced from the $10 bill by an image of a woman.
Today in 2017, a mistrial was declared in Bill Cosby’s trial for aggravated indecent assault after jurors couldn't reach a verdict. He was re-tried, of course, and in April 2018, he was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in a Philadelphia suburb in 2004.
Today in 2018, "The Incredibles 2" set a box office record for an animated release, earning $180-million its opening weekend.
Today in 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making June 19th a federal holiday.