Today in News History

On June 17, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1930, U.S. President Herbert Hoover signs the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law. In 1940, George Akerlof, American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate was born. In 1941, Nicholas C. Handy, English chemist and academic (died 2012) was born. In 1959, Nikos Stavropoulos, Greek basketball player and coach was born. In 1970, Will Forte, American actor, comedian, and screenwriter was born. 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 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 2001, Donald J. Cram, American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1919) passed away. In 2012, Stéphane Brosse, French mountaineer (born 1971) passed away. 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.