TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Tuesday, June 20, the 171st day of 2017. There are 194 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History
On June 20, 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).
On this date
1782 — Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.
1791 — King Louis XVI of France and his family attempted to flee in the so-called “Flight to Varennes,” but were caught.
1837 — Queen Victoria acceded to the British throne following the death of her uncle, King William IV.
1863 — West Virginia became the 35th state.
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.
1990 — South African black nationalist Nelson Mandela and his wife, Winnie, arrived in New York City for a ticker-tape parade in their honor as they began an eight-city U.S. tour.
2001 — Houston resident Andrea Yates drowned her five children in the family bathtub, then called police. (Yates was later found guilty of murder, but had her conviction overturned; she was acquitted by reason of insanity in a retrial.)
One year ago
A divided U.S. Supreme Court bolstered police powers, ruling 5-3 that evidence of a crime in some cases may be used against a defendant even if the police did something wrong or illegal in obtaining it.
Today’s Birthdays
Actor Martin Landau is 89. Actress Bonnie Bartlett is 88. Actress Olympia Dukakis is 86. Actor James Tolkan is 86. Actor Danny Aiello is 84. Blues musician Lazy Lester is 84. Actor John Mahoney is 77. Movie director Stephen Frears is 76. Singer-songwriter Brian Wilson is 75. Actor John McCook is 73. Singer Anne Murray is 72. TV personality Bob Vila is 71. Musician Andre Watts is 71. Actress Candy Clark is 70. Producer Tina Sinatra is 69. Rhythm-andblues singer Lionel Richie is 68. Actor John Goodman is 65. Rock musician Michael Anthony is 63. Pop musician John Taylor is 57. Rock musician Mark degli Antoni (de-GLI’-an-toh-nee) is 55. Christian rock musician Jerome Fontamillas (Switchfoot) is 50. Rock musician Murphy Karges (Sugar Ray) is 50. Actress Nicole Kidman is 50.