Today in History

Today in History

Today is Thursday, June 23, the 175th day of 2016. There are 191 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 23, 1960, the Food and Drug Administration formally approved Enovid as the first oral contraceptive for sale in the U.S.

On this date:

In 1314, during the First War of Scottish Independence, the two-day Battle of Bannockburn, resulting in victory for the forces of Robert the Bruce over the army of King Edward II, began near Stirling.

In 1757, forces of the East India Company led by Robert Clive won the Battle of Plassey, which effectively marked the beginning of British colonial rule in India.

In 1812, Britain, unaware that America had declared war against it five days earlier, rescinded its policy on neutral shipping, a major issue of contention between the two countries.

In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt was nominated for a second term of office at the Republican national convention in Chicago.

In 1931, aviators Wiley Post and Harold Gatty took off from New York on a round-the-world flight that lasted eight days and 15 hours.

In 1938, the Civil Aeronautics Authority was established.

In 1947, the Senate joined the House in overriding President Harry S. Truman's veto of the Taft-Hartley Act, designed to limit the power of organized labor.

In 1956, Gamal Abdel Nasser was elected president of Egypt.

In 1969, Warren E. Burger was sworn in as chief justice of the United States by the man he was succeeding, Earl Warren.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon and White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman discussed using the CIA to obstruct the FBI's Watergate investigation. (Revelation of the tape recording of this conversation sparked Nixon's resignation in 1974.) President Nixon signed Title IX barring discrimination on the basis of sex for "any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."

In 1985, all 329 people aboard an Air India Boeing 747 were killed when the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Ireland because of a bomb authorities believe was planted by Sikh separatists.

In 1996, former Greek prime minister Andreas Papandreou died at age 77.

Ten years ago: Vice President Dick Cheney denounced the revelation of an anti-terrorism program that tapped into an immense international database of confidential financial records. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced he was leaving the Bush administration. Television producer Aaron Spelling died in Los Angeles at age 83.

Five years ago: Republicans pulled out of debt-reduction talks led by Vice President Joe Biden, blaming Democrats for demanding tax increases as part of a deal rather than accepting more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicare and other government programs. "Columbo" actor Peter Falk died in Beverly Hills, California, at age 83. Composer Fred Steiner, 88, perhaps best known for his "Perry Mason" TV theme, died in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico.

One year ago: WikiLeaks published documents it said showed the U.S. National Security Agency had eavesdropped on the last three French presidents, releasing material which appeared to capture officials in Paris talking candidly about Greece's economy, relations with Germany and, ironically, American espionage. The NHL's Board of Governors approved the proposed 3-on-3 overtime change. Actor Dick Van Patten, 86, died in Santa Monica, California.

Today's Birthdays: Singer Diana Trask is 76. Musical conductor James Levine is 73. Actor Ted Shackelford is 70. Actor Bryan Brown is 69. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is 68. Actor Jim Metzler is 65. "American Idol" ex-judge Randy Jackson is 60. Actress Frances McDormand is 59. Rock musician Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) is 54. Actor Paul La Greca is 54. Writer-director Joss Whedon is 52. Rhythm-and-blues singer Chico DeBarge is 46. Actress Selma Blair is 44. Rock singer KT Tunstall is 41. Rhythm-and-blues singer Virgo Williams (Ghostowns DJs) is 41. Actress Emmanuelle Vaugier is 40. Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is 39. Actress Melissa Rauch is 36. Rock singer Duffy is 32. Country singer Katie Armiger is 25.

Thought for Today: "A bore is a man who deprives you of solitude without providing you with company." -- Giovanni Vincenzo Gravina, Italian scholar (1664-1718).