Today in News History

On June 17, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1242, Following the Disputation of Paris, twenty-four carriage loads of Jewish religious manuscripts were burnt in Paris. In 1904, J. Vernon McGee, American pastor and theologian (died 1988) was born. In 1929, Bud Collins, American journalist and sportscaster (died 2016) was born. In 1945, Art Bell, American broadcaster and author (died 2018) was born. In 1957, Martin Dillon, American tenor and educator (died 2005) was born. In 1965, Dermontti Dawson, American football player and coach was born. In 1970, Will Forte, American actor, comedian, and screenwriter was born. In 1971, U.S. President Richard Nixon in a televised press conference called drug abuse "America's public enemy number one", starting the War on drugs. In 1972, Watergate scandal: Five White House operatives are arrested for burgling the offices of the Democratic National Committee during an attempt by members of the administration of President Richard M. Nixon to illegally wiretap the political opposition as part of a broader campaign to subvert the democratic process. In 1989, Interflug Flight 102 crashes during a rejected takeoff from Berlin Schönefeld Airport, killing 21 people. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.