Today in News History

On June 17, 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 1939, Last public guillotining in France: Eugen Weidmann, a convicted murderer, is executed in Versailles outside the Saint-Pierre prison. In 1943, Chantal Mouffe, Belgian theorist and author was born. In 1943, Newt Gingrich, American historian and politician, 58th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives was born. In 1970, Will Forte, American actor, comedian, and screenwriter was born. In 1971, U.S. President Richard Nixon in a televised press conference called drug abuse "America's public enemy number one", starting the War on drugs. In 1980, Jeph Jacques, American author and illustrator was born. In 2001, Donald J. Cram, American chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1919) passed away. In 2013, Pierre F. Côté, Canadian lawyer and civil servant (born 1927) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.