Today in History

Today is Monday, June 25, the 177th day of 2012. There are 189 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 25, 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Engel v. Vitale, ruled 6-1 that recitation of a state-sponsored prayer in New York State public schools was unconstitutional.

On this date:

In 1788, Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution.

In 1876, Lt. Col. Colonel George A. Custer and his 7th Cavalry were wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana.

In 1910, President William Howard Taft signed the White-Slave Traffic Act, more popularly known as the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for "immoral" purposes. The ballet "The Firebird" with music by Igor Stravinsky was premiered in Paris by the Ballets Russes.

In 1912, the Democratic National Convention, which nominated Woodrow Wilson for president, opened in Baltimore.

In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 was enacted.

In 1942, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was designated Commanding General of the European Theater of Operations during World War II. Some 1,000 British Royal Air Force bombers raided Bremen, Germany.

In 1950, war broke out in Korea as forces from the communist North invaded the South.

In 1967, The Beatles performed their new song "All You Need Is Love" during the "Our World" live international telecast.

In 1973, former White House Counsel John W. Dean began testifying before the Senate Watergate Committee.

In 1981, the Supreme Court ruled that male-only draft registration was constitutional.

In 1991, the western Yugoslav republics of Croatia and Slovenia declared their independence.

In 2009, death claimed Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop," in Los Angeles at age 50 and actress Farrah Fawcett in Santa Monica, Calif. at age 62.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush surveyed a huge wildfire in Arizona by air and declared the region a disaster area. A federal judge in Alexandria, Va., refused to accept a no-contest plea from Zacarias Moussaoui, accused of conspiracy in the Sept. 11 attacks, and instead entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Five years ago: A suicide bomber blew himself up in the midst of a gathering of U.S.-allied tribal sheiks at a Baghdad hotel, killing 13 people. Robert Zoellick won unanimous approval of the World Bank's board to become the institution's next president. World Wrestling Entertainment star Chris Benoit, his wife and 7-year-old son were found dead in their Fayetteville, Ga., home (authorities concluded that Benoit strangled his family, then killed himself). A judge in Washington D.C., ruled in favor of a dry cleaner sued by a dissatisfied customer who was demanding $54 million for his misplaced pants.

One year ago: A suicide car bomber blasted a small clinic in eastern Afghanistan, causing the building to collapse and killing some three dozen people. What's believed to be the only surviving authenticated portrait of Billy the Kid sold at auction in Denver for $2.3 million.

Today's Birthdays: Actress June Lockhart is 87. Rhythm-and-blues singer Eddie Floyd is 75. Actress Barbara Montgomery is 73. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Willis Reed is 70. Writer-producer-director Gary David Goldberg is 68. Singer Carly Simon is 67. Rock musician Allen Lanier (Blue Oyster Cult) is 66. Rock musician Ian McDonald (Foreigner; King Crimson) is 66. Actor-comedian Jimmie Walker is 65. Actor-director Michael Lembeck is 64. TV personality Phyllis George is 63. Rock singer Tim Finn is 60. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is 58. Rock musician David Paich (Toto) is 58. Actor Michael Sabatino is 57. Actor-writer-director Ricky Gervais is 51. Actor John Benjamin Hickey is 49. Rock singer George Michael is 49. Actress Erica Gimpel is 48. Former NBA player Dikembe Mutombo is 46. Rapper-producer Richie Rich is 45. Rapper Candyman is 44. Contemporary Christian musician Sean Kelly (Sixpence None the Richer) is 41. Actress Angela Kinsey is 41. Rock musician Mike Kroeger (Nickelback) is 40. Rock musician Mario Calire is 38. Actress Linda Cardellini is 37. Actress Busy Philipps is 33.

Thought for Today: "It is not depravity that afflicts the human race so much as a general lack of intelligence." -- Agnes Repplier, American writer and social critic (1858-1950).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.