Today in News History

On June 18, 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 1885, The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor. In 1930, U.S. President Herbert Hoover signs the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law. In 1941, Nicholas C. Handy, English chemist and academic (died 2012) was born. In 1944, Chris Spedding, English singer-songwriter and guitarist was born. In 1947, George S. Clinton, American composer and songwriter was born. In 1957, Philip Chevron, Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2013) 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 1994, Following a televised low-speed highway chase, O. J. Simpson is arrested for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.