TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

June 15, 1215

England’s King John put his seal to Magna Carta at Runnymede.

ALSO ON THIS DATE

1520

Pope Leo X issued a papal bull in which he threatened to excommunicate Martin Luther if he did not recant his religious beliefs, a threat that was carried out the following January.

1775

The Second Continental Congress voted unanimously to appoint George Washington head of the Continental Army.

1836

Arkansas became the 25th state.

1849

James Polk, the 11th president of the United States, died in Nashville, Tennessee.

1904

More than 1,000 people died when fire erupted aboard the steamboat General Slocum in New York’s East River.

1934

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an act making the National Guard part of the U.S. Army in the event of war or national emergency.

1944

American forces began their successful invasion of Saipan during World War II. B-29 Superfortresses carried out their first raids on Japan.

1955

The United States and Britain signed a cooperation agreement concerning atomic information for “mutual defence purposes.”

1969

The variety show “Hee Haw,” a fast-paced mixture of country music and comedy skits, debuted on CBS-TV.