TODAY IN HISTORY

Today is Friday, June 26, the 178th day of 2020. There are 188 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On June 26, 1948, the Berlin Airlift began in earnest after the Soviet Union cut off land and water routes to the isolated western sector of Berlin.

On this date:

■ In 1911, John J. McDermott became the first Americanborn golf player to win the U.S. Open, played in Chicago.

■ In 1963, President John F. Kennedy visited West Berlin, where he delivered his famous speech expressing solidarity with the city’s residents, declaring: “Ich bin ein Berliner” (I am a Berliner).

■ In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced his choice of Abe Fortas to succeed the retiring Earl Warren as chief justice of the United States (however, Fortas later withdrew in the face of stiff Senate opposition).

■ In 1974, the supermarket price scanner made its debut in Troy, Ohio, as a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit chewing gum costing 67 cents and bearing a Uniform Product Code (UPC) was scanned by a Marsh Supermarket cashier.

■ In 1993, President Bill Clinton announced the U.S. had launched missiles against Iraqi targets because of “compelling evidence” Iraq had plotted to assassinate former President George H.W. Bush.

■ In 1996, the Supreme Court ordered the Virginia Military Institute to admit women or forgo state support.

Today’s Birthdays:

Actor Michael Paul Chan is 70. Actor Robert Davi is 69. Singermusician

Mick Jones is 65. Rock singer Chris Isaak is 64. Rock singer Patty Smyth is 63. U.S. Bicycling Hall of Famer Greg LeMond is 59. Actor Sean Hayes is 50. Actor Matt Letscher is

50. Actor Chris O’Donnell is

50. Actor Nick Offerman is 50. Retired MLB All-Star Derek Jeter is 46. Contemporary Christian musician Jeff Frankenstein (Newsboys) is 46. Country singer Gretchen Wilson is 46. Actress Aubrey Plaza is 36. Actress-singer Ariana Grande is 27.