The Supreme Court rules segregation of public schools unconstitutional (1954). Watergate hearings begin, leading to Nixon’s resignation (1973). First legal same-sex marriage in the US (2004). Antikythera Mechanism discovered (1902). Louie Louie lyrics declared unintelligible (1965). WHO declares homosexuality not a mental illness (1990). Napoleon annexes papal states (1809). First Kentucky Derby held (1875). Megan’s Law requires sex offenders to register changes of address (1996). Charlie Chaplin’s body found after being stolen (1978).
Brown v. the Topeka Board of Education was decided. (1954) The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. It was the first concrete federal action against segregation and overturned decades of the “separate but equal” precedent established in Plessy v. Ferguson.
The televised Watergate hearings have begun. (1973) The Watergate affair was a disaster for President Nixon and enthralled the nation for over a year, until Nixon finally resigned to avoid impeachment.
The first legal same-sex marriage took place in the United States. (2004) Marcia Kadish and Tanya McCloskey wed in Massachusetts on this day as the first same-sex couple legally married in the United States. Over 70 other same-sex couples were married on this day, sparking some protests but many more celebrations.
Discovered the Antikythera Mechanism. (1902) The Antikythera Mechanism is thought to be an ancient computer, although archaeologists still debate its exact use. It was discovered by Valerios Stais, which became the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
The song Louie Louie was officially declared unintelligible. (1965) Rumors circulated that the song lyrics were obscene and parents were starting to send letters of complaint to the government about it. The FBI launched a formal investigation and after a year declared that the lyrics were “incomprehensible at any speed” and therefore could not be considered obscene.
WHO has declared that homosexuality is not a mental illness. (1990) Homosexuality had previously been classified as a form of mental illness in both World Health Organization documents and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a widely used diagnostic tool in the United States.
Napoleon ordered the annexation of the papal states. (1809) French forces invade the papal states, eventually forcing the pope into exile. The papacy was restored in 1814, as the Napoleonic empire began to fall apart.
The first Kentucky Der was performed. (1875) The event was a huge success from the start, with over 10,000 people attending the first race. Aristide, led by Oliver Lewis, won the first derby.
A law has gone into effect requiring sex offenders to register changes of address. (1996) Sometimes known as Megan’s Law, the law was intended to help protect unsuspecting neighbors from sex offenders by providing information about their whereabouts, especially if they are moving to a new neighborhood.
Found the body of Charlie Chaplin. (1978) Grave robbers had stolen the body more than two months earlier to try to get a ransom from his widow. Police caught the two men responsible for stealing the body, which was dug up and reinterred in a theft-proof grave.
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