Today in News History

On June 17, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1775, American Revolutionary War: Colonists inflict heavy casualties on British forces while losing the Battle of Bunker Hill. In 1885, The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor. In 1898, Harry Patch, English soldier and firefighter (died 2009) was born. In 1933, Harry Browne, American soldier and politician (died 2006) was born. In 1948, United Airlines Flight 624, a Douglas DC-6, crashes near Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, killing all 43 people on board. In 1951, Starhawk, American author and activist 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 1996, Thomas Kuhn, American historian and philosopher (born 1922) passed away. In 2013, Bulbs Ehlers, American basketball player (born 1923) passed away. In 2020, Jean Kennedy Smith, American activist, humanitarian, author and diplomat (United States Ambassador to Ireland, 1993-1998) (born 1928) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.