Today in 1844, Samuel F.B. Morse transmitted the message, "What hath God wrought!" from Washington to Baltimore as he formally opened America's first telegraph line.
Today in 1965, the Supreme Court declared that the federal law allowing post office to intercept communist propaganda was unconstitutional.
Today in 1984, Surgeon General C. Everett Koop issued a report saying there was “very solid” evidence linking cigarette smoke to lung disease in non-smokers.
Today in 1997, the space shuttle "Atlantis" returned to Earth, bringing with it NASA astronaut Jerry Linenger, who'd spent four months aboard the Russian "Mir" space station.
Today in 2000, the state of Maryland dismissed its wiretapping case against Linda Tripp after judge disallowed most of Monica Lewinsky's testimony.
Today in 2001, the Democrats gained control of the U.S. Senate for the first time since 1994 when Senator James Jeffords of Vermont abandoned the Republican Party and declared himself an independent.
Today in 2002, Russia and the United States signed the SORT (Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty) /Treaty of Moscow.
Today in 2013, President Barack Obama addressed the sexual assault epidemic staining the military, telling U.S. Naval Academy graduates to remember their honor depended on what they did when nobody was looking and said the crime had “no place in the greatest military on earth.”
Today in 2016, Bill Cosby was ordered to stand trial in a sexual assault case in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He has since been convicted.
Today in 2018, President Trump posthumously pardoned boxer Jack Johnson for racially orientated criminal conviction – transporting a white woman across state lines.
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