June 26, 2008 - Today In History

Today is Thursday, June 26, the 178th day of 2008. There are 188 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 26, 1963, President Kennedy visited West Berlin, where he made his famous declaration: "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a Berliner).

On this date:

In 1284, Pied Piper lures 130 children of Hamelin away (actually happened)

In 1498, Toothbrush invented

In 1721, Dr. Zabdiel Boylston gives 1st smallpox inoculations in America

In 1797, Charles Newbold patents 1st cast-iron plow. He can't sell it to farmers,
though, they fear effects of iron on soil!

In 1848, 1st pure food law enacted in U.S.

In 1894, Karl Benz of Germany receives U.S. patent for gasoline-driven auto

In 1909, Victoria and Albert Museum opens in London

In 1917, 1st U.S. Expeditionary Force arrive in France during WW I

In 1934, Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Federal Credit Union Act, establishing Credit Unions

In 1936, 1st flight of Fw61 helicopter

In 1945, U.N. Charter signed by 50 nations in SF

In 1945, the charter of the United Nations was signed by 50 countries in San Francisco.

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

In 1950, President Truman authorized the Air Force and Navy to enter the Korean conflict.

In 1959, President Eisenhower joined Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in ceremonies officially opening the
St. Lawrence Seaway.

In 1968, Chief U.S. Justice Earl Warren announced he was resigning.

In 1973, former White House counsel John W. Dean told the Senate Watergate Committee
about an "enemies list" kept by the Nixon White House.

In 1993, President Clinton announced the U.S. had launched missiles against Iraqi targets because of
"compelling evidence" Iraq had plotted to assassinate former President Bush.

In 1997m Supreme Court strikes down Internet indecency law

Ten years ago:

The Supreme Court issued a landmark sexual harassment ruling, putting employers on notice that they can
be held responsible for supervisors' misconduct even if they knew nothing about it.

Five years ago:

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, struck down state bans on gay sex.

A jury in Fort Worth, Texas, convicted former nurse's aide Chante Mallard of murder for hitting a homeless man with her car, driving home with his mangled body jammed in the windshield and leaving him to die in her garage. (Mallard was later sentenced to 50 years in prison.)

Strom Thurmond, the longest-serving senator in U.S. history,
died in Edgefield, S.C., at age 100.

Sir Denis Thatcher, husband of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher,
died in London at age 88.

One year ago:

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, appearing on MSNBC's "Hardball," got into a verbal fracas with Elizabeth Edwards, who had called into the program to ask Coulter to stop making personal attacks on her husband, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

Paris Hilton left the Los Angeles County jail after a bizarre, three-week stay for a probation violation.

Fashion designer Liz Claiborne died in New York at age 78.

Today's Birthdays:

Actress Eleanor Parker is 86.

Jazz musician-film composer Dave Grusin is 74.

Actor Josef Sommer is 74. Singer Billy Davis Jr. (The Fifth Dimension) is 68.

Rock singer Georgie Fame is 65. Actor Clive Francis is 62.

Rhythm-and-blues singer Brenda Holloway is 62.

Actor Michael Paul Chan is 58. Actor Robert Davi is 55.

Singer-musician Mick Jones is 53.

Actor Gedde Watanabe is 53. Rock singer Chris Isaak is 52.

Rock singer Patty Smyth is 51. Singer Terri Nunn (Berlin) is 47.

Rock singer Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays) is 45.

Rock musician Colin Greenwood (Radiohead) is 39.

Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson is 38.

Actor Sean Hayes is 38. Actor Matt Letscher is 38.

Actor Chris O'Donnell is 38. Actress Rebecca Budig is 35.

Country singer Gretchen Wilson is 34.

Actor-musician Jason Schwartzman is 28.

Actress Kaitlin Cullum is 22.

Thought for Today:

"When a diplomat says yes, he means perhaps;

when he says perhaps, he means no;

when he says no, he is no diplomat."

— Anonymous.