Today in News History

On June 29, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1620, English crown bans tobacco growing in England, giving the Virginia Company a monopoly in exchange for tax of one shilling per pound. In 1849, John Hunn, American businessman and politician, 51st Governor of Delaware (died 1926) was born. In 1924, Philip H. Hoff, American politician (died 2018) was born. In 1950, Korean War: U.S. President Harry S. Truman authorizes a sea blockade of Korea. In 1955, Charles J. Precourt, American colonel, pilot, and astronaut was born. In 1956, The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 is signed by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, officially creating the United States Interstate Highway System. In 1972, The United States Supreme Court rules in the case Furman v. Georgia that arbitrary and inconsistent imposition of the death penalty violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. In 2006, Hamdan v. Rumsfeld: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that President George W. Bush's plan to try Guantanamo Bay detainees in military tribunals violates U.S. and international law. In 2015, Hisham Barakat, Egyptian lawyer and judge (born 1950) passed away. In 2021, Donald Rumsfeld, American captain and politician, 13th United States Secretary of Defense (born 1932) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.