ROSS SIMPSON

The U.S. Senate Watergate Committee began its hearings on this day
1973. Senator Sam Ervin (below) opened the first public hearing on
Presidential Campaign Activities, commonly known as Watergate.

Richard Nixon leaves the White House following his resignation over 
the Watergate scandal.

TIM MAGUIRE

Alabama Gov. George Wallace allowed two black
students to enroll at the University of Alabama
on this day in 1963.

Vivian Malone entering Foster Auditorium to register for classes at
the University of Alabama. Vivian Malone, one of the first African Americans to attend the university, walks through a crowd that
includes photographers, National Guard members, and Deputy
U.S. Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach.

Protesting the persecution of Buddhist, a Vietnamese monk burned himself to death in a Saigon intersection on this day in 1963. He reportedly didn’t make a sound or even move during the incident.

The execution room at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, IN.

The U.S. government executed Timothy McVeigh (above) by chemical injection 
on this day in 2001. He was accused of taking the lives of 168 people when he
blew up the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995. He died silently, with his
eyes open. Instead of making an oral statement, McVeigh, 33, issued a copy
of the 1875 poem "Invictus," which concludes with the lines: "I am the master
of my fate; I am the captain of my soul."

Oklahoma City fire Captain Chris Fields carries Baylee Almon from
the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City
following the 1995 bombing. Little Baylee died a short time later.

Sir Barton became the first horse to capture the Triple Crown when
he won the Belmont Stakes in New York City on this day in 1919.

The 1919 Belmont Stakes Trophy Silver Tray Presented to the Owner of Sir
Barton.

Marion Mitchell Morrison (Marion Robert Morrison) Born in Winterset, Iowa. (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979)

Between 1926 and 1976, John Wayne (nicknamed Duke) appeared in
over 170 motion pictures, and became one of America’s biggest box office stars, only Clark Gable sold more tickets than Wayne.

TIM MAGUIRE

An exchange between Sen. Joseph McCarthy (right) and Joseph
Welch (left) took place on this day in 1954. Sen. McCarthy was
confronted by Welch over his anti-communist stance. Welch
represented the Army during the Army-McCarthy hearings.   

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Charles John Huffam Dickens
(February 7, 1812 – June 9, 1870) 

Charles Dickens was an English writer and social
critic. He created some of the world’s best-known
fictional characters and is regarded by many as
the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works
enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime,
and by the 20th century critics and scholars had
recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and
short stories enjoy lasting popularity. Dickens
suffered stroke at his home after a full day’s work
on his final novel Edwin Drood and never regained
consciousness. His ending for the unfinished book
remains unknown.

Comedian/actor Richard Pryor was severely burned by a "free-base" mixture that exploded in his home on this day in 1980. He was hospitalized more than two months.

On this day in 1973, Secretariat won the 105th Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths and ran the fastest 1 1/2 miles on dirt at 2:24.

Les Paul (Lester William Polsfuss) (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009)

Les Paul  was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar. He
taught himself how to play guitar, and while he is mainly known for jazz
and popular music, he had an early career in country music. Paul is
credited with many recording innovations. Although he was not the first
to use the technique, his early experiments with overdubbing (also known
as sound on sound), delay effects such as tape delay phasing effects and multitrack recording were among the first to attract widespread attention

Les Paul is the only person to be included in both the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

 

He recorded with his wife Mary Ford in the 1950s, and together 
they sold millions of records.

ROSS SIMPSON

On this day in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled for school integration in Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka. The
ruling declared that racially segregated schools were inherently
unequal.

The U.S. Senate Watergate Committee began its hearings on this day
in 1973. Sen. Sam Ervin (center) was the chairman of the Investigating Committee

On this day in 1792, the New York Stock Exchange was founded at
70 Wall Street by 24 brokers.

The actual Buttonwood Agreement is shown on the right. The New
York Stock Exchange traces its origins to this historic document.

The first Kentucky Derby was held at what would become known as Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. on this day in 1875. 

Winning the race was Oliver Lewis riding the horse named Aristides
with a time of 2 min 37 seconds. The purse at that time was said to
be $2,850.

TIM MAGUIRE

Alabama Gov. George Wallace’s literal stand (left) against forced integration on this day in 1963 made him a national figure in the
ongoing Civil Rights battle.

On this day in June of 1963, Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk Thích
Quang Duc burned himself to death at a busy intersection in Saigon. He
was attempting to show that to fight all forms of oppression on equal
terms, Buddhism too, needed to have its martyrs.

Photographer Malcolm Browne captured the scene in Saigon for the
Associated Press, and the stark image quickly became an iconic visual
of the turbulent 1960s.

Timothy James McVeigh  (April 23, 1968 – June 11, 2001)

Timothy McVeigh was convicted of blowing up the Oklahoma city federal
building killing and 168 people in the deadliest act of terrorism on American
soil. He was executed on this day in 2001.       

   
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   

It was on this day in 1919.

Sir Barton’s monument and gravesite in Douglas, Wyoming.

On this day in 1979.

John Wayne (Marion Robert Morrison)
(May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979)

The Duke’s grave marker.