Today in 1884, John Lynch (R-MS) was chosen as the first black major-party national convention chair.
Today in 1946, designer Louis Reard introduced the “bikini swimsuit.” He took the name from the Bikini Islands, a nuclear test site in the Pacific.
Today in 1965, Ed White became the first American astronaut to “walk in space” during the Gemini Four mission.
Today in 1968, Andy Warhol was shot and critically wounded in his New York film studio by Valerie Solanas. While he was pronounced dead at the hospital, he was revived and lived on until 1987, when he succumbed to complications from gall bladder surgery. As for Solanas, she served three years in prison for the shootings, and spent much of her life on the streets and in mental hospitals for schizophrenia before her death in 1988. The story is detailed in the film, “I Shot Andy Warhol.”
Today in 1981,Pope John Paul II landy warholeft a Rome hospital, following an assassination attempt the previous May.
Today in 2013, a sharply divided Supreme Court cleared the way for police to take a DNA swab from anyone they arrested for a serious crime.
Today in 2016, heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali died at a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 74.
Today in 2017, a white van slammed into pedestrians on London Bridge, killing eight people - the three attackers were shot and killed by police.
Today in 2017, SpaceX launched its first recycled cargo ship to the International Space Station.
Today in 2018, Golden State guard Stephen Curry broke Ray Allen's NBA Finals record for most 3-pointers with 9 in the Warriors 19 point Game 2 win over Cleveland.
(Photo courtesy of AFP via Getty Images)