TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT 1992

A jury in Simi Valley, California, acquitted four Los Angeles police officers of almost all state charges in the videotaped beating of motorist Rodney King; the verdicts were followed by rioting resulting in 55deaths.

ALSO ON THIS DATE 1913

Swedish-born engineer Gideon Sundback of New Jersey, received a U.S. patent for a “separable fastener” — later known as the zipper.

1945

During World War II, American soldiers liberated the Dachau concentration camp. Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun inside his “Fuhrerbunker” and designated Adm. Karl Doenitz president.

1946

28former Japanese officials went on trial in Tokyo as war criminals; seven ended up being sentenced to death.

1957

The SM-1, the first military nuclear power plant, was dedicated at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

1967

Aretha Franklin’s cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect” was released as a single by Atlantic Records.

1961

“ABC’s Wide World of Sports” premiered, with Jim McKay as host.

1983

Harold Washington was sworn in as the first Black mayor of Chicago.

1997

Staff Sgt. Delmar Simpson, a drill instructor at Aberdeen Proving Ground was convicted of raping six female trainees (he was sentenced to 25 years in prison and dishonorably discharged). A worldwide treaty to ban chemical weapons went into effect.

2010

The U.S. Navy officially ended a ban on women serving on submarines, saying the first women would be reporting for duty by 2012.