TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

1973

The U.S. Supreme Court, in its Roe v. Wade decision, declared a nationwide constitutional right to abortion. Former President Lyndon B. Johnson died at his Texas ranch at age 64.

ALSO ON THIS DATE

1901

Britain’s Queen Victoria died at age 81 after a reign of 63 years; she was succeeded by her eldest son, Edward VII.

1907

The Richard Strauss opera “Salome” made its American debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York; its racy content sparked outrage and forced cancellation of additional performances.

1944

During World War II, Allied forces began landing at Anzio, Italy.

1970

The first regularly scheduled commercial flight of the Boeing 747 began in New York and ended in London some 6 1⁄2 hours later.

1973

George Foreman upset reigning heavyweight champion Joe Frazier with a second round TKO in their match in Kingston, Jamaica.

1987

Pennsylvania treasurer R. Budd Dwyer, convicted of defrauding the state, proclaimed his innocence at a news conference before pulling out a gun, placing the barrel in his mouth and shooting himself to death in front of horrified onlookers.

1995

Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy died at the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 104.

1997

The Senate confirmed Madeleine Albright as the nation’s first female secretary of state.

1998

Theodore Kaczynski pleaded guilty in Sacramento, California, to being the Unabomber responsible for three deaths and 29injuries in return for a sentence of life in prison without parole.