Today in News History

On June 20, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1782, The U.S. Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States. In 1944, The experimental MW 18014 V-2 rocket reaches an altitude of 176 km, becoming the first man-made object to reach outer space. In 1945, The United States Secretary of State approves the transfer of Wernher von Braun and his team of Nazi rocket scientists to the U.S. under Operation Paperclip. In 1946, Xanana Gusmão, Timorese soldier and politician, 1st President of East Timor was born. In 1946, David Kazhdan, Russian-Israeli mathematician and academic was born. In 1950, Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi politician, 76th Prime Minister of Iraq was born. In 1954, Ilan Ramon, Israeli colonel, pilot, and astronaut (died 2003) was born. In 1963, Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Soviet Union and the United States sign an agreement to establish the so-called "red telephone" link between Washington, D.C., and Moscow. In 1969, MaliVai Washington, American tennis player and sportscaster was born. In 2019, Iran's Air Defense Forces shoot down an American surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions between the two countries. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.