Today in News History

On June 21, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1768, James Otis Jr. offends the King and Parliament in a speech to the Massachusetts General Court. In 1915, The U.S. Supreme Court hands down its decision in Guinn v. United States 238 US 347 1915, striking down Oklahoma grandfather clause legislation which had the effect of denying the right to vote to blacks. In 1931, Margaret Heckler, American journalist, lawyer, and politician, 15th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (died 2018) was born. In 1942, Togo D. West Jr., American soldier, lawyer, and politician, 3rd United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (died 2018) was born. In 1961, Joko Widodo, Indonesian businessman and politician, 7th President of Indonesia was born. In 1972, Tomáš Valášek, Slovak diplomat and politician was born. In 1973, In its decision in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15, the Supreme Court of the United States establishes the Miller test for determining whether something is obscene and not protected speech under the U.S. constitution. In 1982, John Hinckley is found not guilty by reason of insanity for the attempted assassination of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. 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 2008, Scott Kalitta, American race car driver (born 1962) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.