TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

1961

President John F. Kennedy told Congress: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”

ALSO ON THIS DATE

1787

The Constitutional Convention began at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia after enough delegates had shown up for a quorum.

1810

Argentina began its revolt against Spanish rule with the forming of the Primera Junta in Buenos Aires.

1935

Babe Ruth hit his last three career home runs — Nos. 712, 713and 714— for the Boston Braves in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1946

Transjordan became a kingdom as it proclaimed its new monarch, Abdullah I.

1959

The U.S. Supreme Court, in State Athletic Commission v. Dorsey, struck down a Louisiana law prohibiting interracial boxing matches.

1964

The U.S. Supreme Court, in Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, ordered the Virginia county to reopen its public schools, which officials had closed in an attempt to circumvent the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka desegregation ruling.

1965

Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston in the first round of their world heavyweight title rematch in Lewiston, Maine.

1992

Jay Leno made his debut as host of NBC’s “Tonight Show,” succeeding Johnny Carson.

2005

Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen won Senate confirmation as a federal appeals judge after a ferocious four-year battle.