Today in News History

On June 21, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1862, Damrong Rajanubhab, Thai historian and author (died 1943) was born. In 1880, Theophilus H. Holmes, American general (born 1804) passed away. In 1898, The United States captures Guam from Spain. The few warning shots fired by the U.S. naval vessels are misinterpreted as salutes by the Spanish garrison, which was unaware that the two nations were at war. In 1918, Dee Molenaar, American mountaineer (died 2020) was born. In 1918, J. Clyde Mitchell, British sociologist and anthropologist (died 1995) was born. In 1988, Alejandro Ramírez, American chess player was born. In 1989, The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, that American flag-burning is a form of political protest protected by the First Amendment. In 2001, A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, indicts 13 Saudis and a Lebanese in the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 American servicemen. In 2002, Timothy Findley, Canadian author and playwright (born 1930) passed away. In 2012, Sunil Janah, Indian photographer and journalist (born 1918) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.