Today in History – Wilmington News Journal

Today is Friday, June 9, the 160th day of 2023. There are 205 days left in the year.

Today’s highlight in the story:

On June 9, 2004, the body of Ronald Reagan arrived in Washington to be laid to rest in state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol before the funeral of the 40th president.

To this date :

In 1732, James Oglethorpe received a charter from King George II of Great Britain to found the colony of Georgia.

In 1870, author Charles Dickens died in Gad’s Hill Place, England.

In 1915, guitarist, songwriter and inventor Les Paul was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

In 1940, during World War II, Norway decided to surrender to the Nazis, effective midnight.

In 1954, during the Army-McCarthy Senate hearings, Army Special Counsel Joseph N. Welch chastised Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, R-Wis., asking, “Have you no sense of decency, sir? Finally, have you left no sense of decency?

In 1969, the Senate confirmed that Warren Burger was the new Chief Justice of the United States, succeeding Earl Warren.

In 1972, heavy rains triggered record flooding in the Black Hills of South Dakota; the resulting disaster claimed at least 238 lives and $164 million in damage.

In 1978, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rescinded a 148-year-old policy of excluding black men from the Mormon priesthood.

In 1983, Britain’s Conservatives, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, won a decisive election victory.

In 1986, the Rogers Commission released its report on the Challenger disaster, criticizing NASA and rocket builder Morton Thiokol for mismanagement that led to the explosion that claimed the lives of seven astronauts.

In 1993, the science fiction film “Jurassic Park”, directed by Steven Spielberg, had its world premiere in Washington, D.C.

In 2020, hundreds of mourners filled a Houston church for the funeral of George Floyd, a black man whose death during arrest in Minneapolis inspired a worldwide judgment on racial injustice.

Ten years ago: At risk of prosecution by the US government, 29-year-old intelligence analyst Edward Snowden was exposed as the source of the Guardian and Washington Post revelations about secret US surveillance programs. Rafael Nadal became the first man to win eight titles at the same Grand Slam tournament after beating fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the French Open final. Inbee Park birdied the third hole of a sudden-death playoff with Catriona Matthew to win the rain-delayed LPGA Championship. “Kinky Boots” was named Best Musical at the Tony Awards; “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” won best game.

Five years ago: After leaving the annual G-7 summit in Canada, President Donald Trump withdrew from a joint statement with other summit leaders, citing what he called “false statements” from the host, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau warned he would not hesitate to retaliate against new U.S. tariffs. Justify, ridden by Mike Smith and trained by Bob Baffert, won the Belmont Stakes to become horse racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner and second in the last four years. Simona Halep won her first Grand Slam trophy by defeating Sloane Stephens in the women’s final at Roland Garros.

A year ago: In its first public hearing on the matter, the House panel investigating the January 6 uprising on the US Capitol, firmly blamed Donald Trump, saying the assault was not not spontaneous but an “attempted coup” and a direct result of the defeated president’s efforts to annul the 2020 elections. circle closest to Trump. The US Department of Justice has opened a wide-ranging civil rights investigation into the Louisiana State Police amid mounting evidence the agency has shown a tendency to look the other way in the face of beatings predominantly black men. Financial reports showed Supreme Court justices earned $800,000 in book royalties the previous year, a lucrative supplement to their judicial salaries.

Today’s birthdays: Media analyst Marvin Kalb turns 93. Sports commentator Dick Vitale is 84 years old. Author Letty Cottin Pogrebin is 84 years old. Rock musician Mick Box (Uriah Heep) is 76 years old. Dave Parker, retired MLB All-Star, is 72. Film composer James Newton Howard is 72 years old. Crime novelist Patricia Cornwell is 67 years old. Actor Michael J. Fox is 62 years old. Writer-producer Aaron Sorkin is 62 years old. Actor Johnny Depp is 60 years old. Actor Gloria Reuben is 59 years old. Actress and gospel singer Tamela Mann is 57 years old. Rock musician Dean Felber (Hootie & the Blowfish) is 56. Rock musician Dean Dinning is 56 years old. Musician Ed Simons is 53 years old. Actor Keesha Sharp is 50 years old. Bluegrass singer-musician Jamie Dailey (Dailey & Vincent) is 48 years old. Actor Michaela Conlin is 45 years old. Natalie Portman is 42 years old. Actor Mae Whitman is 35 years old. Actor Lucien Laviscount is 31 years old.