Today In History...

In 68 Roman Emperor Nero commits suicide to avoid execution.

In 1784 John Carroll is appointed supervisor of U.S. Catholic missions.

In 1860 The first dime novel, titled Malaeska: The Indian Wife of the White Hunter," is published.

In 1870 Author Charles Dickens dies in Godshill, England.

In 1898 China leases Hong Kong's New Territories to Britain for 99 years.

In 1931 Goddard patents the rocket-fueled aircraft design.

In 1940 Norway surrenders to the Nazis during World War II.

In 1943 The U.S. Congress approves payroll withholding taxes.

In 1953 About 100 people die when a tornado strikes Worcester, MA.

In 1954 A dramatic confrontation takes place at the Senate-Army hearings as Army counsel Joseph N. Welch asks Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, "Have you no sense of decency, sir?"

In 1959 The first ballistic missile submarine is launched.

In 1969 The U.S. Senate confirms Warren Burger to be the new chief justice of the United States succeeding Earl Warren.

In 1973 Secretariat becomes horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 25 years by winning the Belmont Stakes in New York.

In 1978 The Mormon church strikes down a 148-year-old policy excluding black men from the Mormon priesthood.

In 1980 Soyuz T-2 returns to Earth.

In 1980 Comedian Richard Pyror suffers almost fatal third-degree burns at his San Fernando Valley, CA, home while free-basing cocaine.

In 1983 British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her Conservative government win re-election.

In 1984 President Reagan and the leaders of six other major industrial democracies wrap up their London summit by urging speedy renewal of superpower nuclear arms control talks.

In 1985 American educator Thomas Sutherland is kidnapped in Lebanon. (He was released in November 1991 along with fellow hostage Terry Waite.)

In 1986 A report on the space shuttle Challenger tragedy concludes that NASA and rocket-maker Morton-Thiokol had severe management problems.

In 1987 Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware announces his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.

In 1988 The House ethics committee meets in closed session to discuss whether to formally investigate charges that Speaker Jim Wright's financial dealings may have violated House rules.

In 1989 China begins reporting large-scale arrests in the wake of the crushed pro-democracy movement.

In 1991 Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir insists his country have a say in the selection of Palestinians who would attend a U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference.

In 1992 Secretary of State James Baker concludes two days of arms talks with Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev.

In 1992 Vice President Dan Quayle addressing Southern Baptists in Indianapolis condemned the "media elite," saying, "I wear their scorn as a badge of honor."

In 1993 As millions of Japanese watched on television, Crown Prince Naruhito wed commoner Masako Owada in an elaborate Shinto religious ceremony.

In 1993 Actress Alexis Smith dies in Los Angeles at age 72.

In 1995 One week after being shot down over Bosnia by a Bosnian Serb missile, and a day after being rescued, U.S. Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady is warmly welcomed at Aviano Air Base in Italy.

In 1996 White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta says it was wrong for an investigator to have obtained secret FBI files on 341 people, including prominent Republicans, and President Clinton agreed with Panetta that an apology was called for.

In 1997 Microsoft announces a $1 billion investment in the cable TV giant Comcast Corp.

In 1998 Three white men face murder charges in the Texas dragging death of African American James Byrd Jr.

In 2000 Painter Jacob Lawrence dies.

In 2001 China and the U.S. agree on farm subsidies and other issues blocking Beijing's bid to join the World Trade Organization.

In 2001 The Colorado Avalanche wins the Stanley Cup defeating defending champion New Jersey Devils, 3-1, in game seven.

In 2001 Jennifer Capriati beats Kim Clijsters to win the French Open.

In 2002 Thousands of Russian soccer fans riot in Moscow during their country's loss to Japan in the World Cup.

In 2002 Se Ri Pak wins the LPGA Championship to become the youngest woman to claim four major championships.

In 2003 The New Jersey Devils win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, 3-0, in Game 7.

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