Today in History

Today is Sunday, June 16, the 167th day of 2019. There are 198 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 16, 1858, accepting the Illinois Republican Party's nomination for the U.S. Senate, Abraham Lincoln said the slavery issue had to be resolved, declaring, "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

On this date:

In 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned in Lochleven Castle in Scotland. (She escaped almost a year later but ended up imprisoned again.)

In 1883, baseball's first "Ladies' Day" took place as the New York Gothams offered women free admission to a game against the Cleveland Spiders. (New York won, 5-2.)

In 1903, Ford Motor Co. was incorporated.

In 1911, IBM had its beginnings as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. which was incorporated in New York State.

In 1932, President Herbert Hoover and Vice President Charles Curtis were renominated at the Republican National Convention in Chicago.

In 1933, the National Industrial Recovery Act became law with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signature. (The Act was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.) The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was founded as President Roosevelt signed the Banking Act of 1933.

In 1944, George Stinney, a 14-year-old black youth, was electrocuted by the state of South Carolina for the murders of two white girls, Betty June Binnicker, 11, and Mary Emma Thames, 7.

In 1963, the world's first female space traveler, Valentina Tereshkova, 26, was launched into orbit by the Soviet Union aboard Vostok 6; Tereshkova spent 71 hours in flight, circling the Earth 48 times before returning safely.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos signed the instruments of ratification for the Panama Canal treaties during a ceremony in Panama City.

In 1996, Russian voters went to the polls in their first independent presidential election; the result was a runoff between President Boris Yeltsin (the eventual winner) and Communist challenger Gennady Zyuganov. Sportscaster Mel Allen died in Greenwich, Connecticut, at age 83.

In 2015, real estate mogul Donald Trump launched his successful campaign to become president of the United States with a speech at Trump Tower in Manhattan.

In 2017, President Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time that he was under federal investigation as part of the expanding probe into Russia's election meddling as he lashed out at a top Justice Department official overseeing the inquiry.

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama met with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at the White House; afterward, Obama declared North Korea a "grave threat" to the world and pledged the U.S. and its allies would aggressively enforce fresh penalties against the nuclear-armed nation. Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, a leading Republican mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, admitted he'd had an extramarital affair with a campaign staff member. Federal health regulators warned consumers to stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they could permanently damage the sense of smell.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama notified Congress that up to 275 troops could be sent to Iraq to provide support and security for U.S. personnel and the American Embassy in Baghdad. A divided Supreme Court sided with gun control groups and the Obama administration, ruling that the federal government can strictly enforce laws that ban a "straw" purchaser from buying a gun for someone else.

One year ago: China announced 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion in U.S. imports, including soybeans and beef, in response to President Donald Trump's tariff hike on a similar amount of Chinese goods; China also scrapped agreements to narrow its trade surplus with the United States.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Eileen Atkins is 85. Actor Bill Cobbs is 85. Author Joyce Carol Oates is 81. Country singer Billy "Crash" Craddock is 81. Songwriter Lamont Dozier is 78. Rhythm and blues singer Eddie Levert is 77. Actress Joan Van Ark is 76. Actor Geoff Pierson is 70. Rhythm and blues singer James Smith (The Stylistics) is 69. Boxing Hall of Famer Roberto Duran is 68. Pop singer Gino Vannelli is 67. Actress Laurie Metcalf is 64. Actor Arnold Vosloo is 57. Actor Danny Burstein is 55. Model-actress Jenny Shimizu is 52. Actor James Patrick Stuart is 51. Rapper MC Ren is 50. Actor Clifton Collins Jr. is 49. Golfer Phil Mickelson is 49. Actor John Cho is 47. Actor Eddie Cibrian is 46. Actor Fred Koehler is 44. Actress China Shavers is 42. Actor Daniel Bruhl is 41. Bluegrass musician Caleb Smith (Balsam Range) is 41. Actress Sibel Kekilli is 39. Actress Missy Peregrym is 37. Actress Olivia Hack is 36. Singer Diana DeGarmo (TV: "American Idol") is 32. Pop-rock musician Ian Keaggy (Hot Chelle Rae) is 32.

Thought for Today: "I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me." -- Dudley Field Malone, American attorney (1882-1950).