Today in News History

On June 17, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1863, American Civil War: Battle of Aldie in the Gettysburg Campaign. In 1930, U.S. President Herbert Hoover signs the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law. In 1940, The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fall under the occupation of the Soviet Union. In 1950, Lee Tamahori, New Zealand film director was born. In 1964, Michael Gross, German swimmer was born. In 1967, Nuclear weapons testing: China announces a successful test of its first thermonuclear weapon. 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 1988, Stephanie Rice, Australian swimmer was born. In 1992, A "joint understanding" agreement on arms reduction is signed by U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (this would be later codified in START II). In 2014, Stanley Marsh 3, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1938) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.