Today In History

Today is Wednesday, June 3, the 155th day of 2020. There are 211 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

› 1965: Astronaut Edward H. White became the first American to “walk” in space during the flight of Gemini 4.

ON THIS DATE

› 1935: The French liner Normandie set a record on its maiden voyage, arriving in New York after crossing the Atlantic in just four days.

› 1943: Los Angeles saw the beginning of its “Zoot Suit Riots” as white servicemen clashed with young Latinos wearing distinctive-looking zoot suits; the violence finally ended when military officials declared the city off limits to enlisted personnel.

› 1948: The 200-inch reflecting Hale Telescope at the Palomar Mountain Observatory in California was dedicated.

› 1977: The United States and Cuba agreed to set up diplomatic interests sections in each other’s countries; Cuba also announced the immediate release of 10 Americans jailed on drug charges.

› 1989: Chinese army troops began their sweep of Beijing to crush student-led pro-democracy demonstrations.

› 2008: Barack Obama claimed the Democratic presidential nomination, speaking in the same St. Paul, Minnesota, arena where Republicans would be holding their national convention in September 2008.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

The former president of Cuba, Raul Castro, is 89. Actress Irma P. Hall is 85. Author Larry McMurtry is 84. Rock singer Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) is 81. World Golf Hall of Famer Hale Irwin is 75. Actress Penelope Wilton is 74. Singer Eddie Holman is

74. Actor Tristan Rogers is 74. Musician Too Slim (Riders in the Sky) is 72. Singer Suzi Quatro is 70. Singer Deniece Williams is 70. Singer Dan Hill is

66. Actress Suzie Plakson is 62. Rock musician Kerry King (Slayer) is 56. Actor James Purefoy is

56. Rock singer-musician Mike Gordon is 55. TV host Anderson Cooper is

53. Country singer Jamie O’Neal is 52. Writer-director Tate Taylor is 41. Actor Vik Sahay is 49. R&B singer Lyfe Jennings is 47. Actress Arianne Zucker is 46. Actress Nikki M. James is 39. Tennis player Rafael Nadal is

34. Actor Josh Segarra is

34. Actress-singer Lalaine is 33. Actor Sean Berdy is

27. Actress Anne Winters is 26.