TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, June 20, the 171st day of 2018. There are 194 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY: On this date in 1893, a jury in New Bedford, Mass., found Lizzie Borden not guilty of the ax murders of her father and stepmother.
In 1782, Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.
In 1789, during the French Revolution, members of the Third Estate took the “Tennis Court Oath,” vowing not to disband until a written constitution was in place.
In 1791, King Louis XVI of France and his family attempted to flee in the so-called “Flight to Varennes,” but were caught.
In 1837, Queen Victoria acceded to the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.
In 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state.
In 1921, U.S. Rep. Alice Mary Robertson, R-Okla., became the first woman to preside over a session of the House of Representatives.
In 1943, race-related rioting erupted in Detroit; federal troops were sent in two days later to quell the violence that resulted in more than 30 deaths.
In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. (Ali’s conviction was ultimately overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court).
In 1977, the first oil began flowing through the recently completed TransAlaska Pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.
In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld a New York City law making it illegal for private clubs with more than 400 members to exclude women and minorities.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Actress Bonnie Bartlett is 89. Actress Olympia Dukakis is 87. Actor Danny Aiello and blues musician Lazy Lester are 85. Movie director Stephen Frears is 77. Singersongwriter Brian Wilson is 76. Singer Anne Murray is 73. TV personality Bob Vila and musician Andre Watts are 72. Producer Tina Sinatra is 70. Rhythm and blues singer Lionel Richie is 69. Actor John Goodman is 66. Rock musician Michael Anthony is 64. Pop musician John Taylor is 58. Rock musician Mark degli Antoni is 56. Actress Nicole Kidman is 51. Actor Peter Paige is 49. Rock singer Chino Moreno (Deftones) is 45. Country-folk singer-songwriter Amos Lee is 41. Actress Tika Sumpter and country musician Chris Thompson (The Eli Young Band) are 38. Actress-singer Alisan Porter is 37. Actor Mark Saul is 33. Actress Dreama Walker is 32. Actress Maria Lark is 21.