Today in History

Today is Friday, June 3, the 154th day of 2022. There are 211 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On June 3, 1989, Chinese army troops began their sweep of Beijing to crush student-led pro-democracy demonstrations.

On this date:

In 1621, the Dutch West India Co. received its charter for a trade monopoly in parts of the Americas and Africa.

In 1888, the poem “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer was first published in the San Francisco Daily Examiner.

In 1935, the French liner Normandie set a record on its maiden voyage, arriving in New York after crossing the Atlantic in just four days.

In 1937, Edward, The Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated the British throne, married Wallis Simpson in a private ceremony in Monts, France.

In 1962, Air France Flight 007, a U.S.-bound Boeing 707, crashed while attempting to take off from Orly Airport near Paris; all but two of the 132 people aboard were killed.

In 1965, astronaut Edward H. White became the first American to “walk” in space during the flight of Gemini 4.

In 1977, the United States and Cuba agreed to set up diplomatic interests sections in each other’s countries; Cuba also announced the immediate release of 10 Americans jailed on drug charges.

In 1989, Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, died.

In 2008, Barack Obama claimed the Democratic presidential nomination, speaking in the same St. Paul, Minnesota, arena where Republicans would be holding their national convention in September 2008.

In 2011, physician-assisted suicide advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian died at a Michigan hospital at 83. Actor James Arness (TV: “Gunsmoke”), 88, died in Brentwood, California.

In 2016, heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali died at a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, at age 74.

In 2020, prosecutors charged three more police officers in the death of George Floyd and filed a new, tougher charge of second-degree murder against Derek Chauvin, the officer who was caught on video pressing his knee to Floyd’s neck. (Chauvin would be convicted on all charges.) Defense Secretary Mark Esper took issue with President Donald Trump’s threats to use the full force of the military to quell street protests. Enforcing a curfew, police in New York City moved in on crowds of demonstrators, at times blasting people with pepper spray.

Ten years ago: A Dana Air MD-83 jetliner carrying 153 people crashed on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria, killing everyone on board and at least 10 people on the ground. The River Thames became a royal highway as Queen Elizabeth II led a motley but majestic flotilla of more than 1,000 vessels to mark her Diamond Jubilee. Tiger Woods birdied three of his last four holes to win the Memorial, closing with a 5-under 67.

Five years ago: A white van slammed into pedestrians on London Bridge, killing eight people; the three attackers were shot and killed by police. SpaceX launched its first recycled cargo ship to the International Space Station. Former major leaguer Jimmy Piersall, who bared his soul about his struggles with mental illness in his book “Fear Strikes Out,” died in Wheaton, Illinois, at age 87. Albert Pujols (POO’-hohlz) of the Angels hit a grand slam for his 600th homer during the fourth inning of Los Angeles’ 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

One year ago: California workplace regulators approved controversial rules that allowed workers to go maskless only if every employee in a room was fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. United Airlines said it was hoping to bring back supersonic travel before the end of the decade; the airline announced plans to buy 15 jets from Boom Supersonic. A former colleague confirmed the death of celebrity attorney F. Lee Bailey, who had defended O.J. Simpson, Patricia Hearst and the alleged Boston Strangler; Bailey was 87.

Today’s Birthdays: The former president of Cuba, Raul Castro, is 91. Actor Irma P. Hall is 87. Rock singer Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) is 83. World Golf Hall of Famer Hale Irwin is 77. Actor Penelope Wilton is 76. Singer Eddie Holman is 76. Actor Tristan Rogers is 76. Musician Too Slim (Riders in the Sky) is 74. Singer Suzi Quatro is 72. Singer Deneice Williams is 72. Singer Dan Hill is 68. Actor Suzie Plakson is 64. Actor Scott Valentine is 64. Rock musician Kerry King (Slayer) is 58. Actor James Purefoy is 58. Rock singer-musician Mike Gordon is 57. TV host Anderson Cooper is 55. Country singer Jamie O’Neal is 54. Writer-director Tate Taylor is 43. Singers Gabriel and Ariel Hernandez (No Mercy) are 51. Actor Vik Sahay is 51. R&B singer Lyfe Jennings is 49. Actor Arianne Zucker is 48. Actor Nikki M. James is 41. Tennis player Rafael Nadal is 36. Actor Josh Segarra is 36. Actor-singer Lalaine is 35. Actor Sean Berdy is 29. Actor Anne Winters is 28.

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