Today's Puzzle
What is the difference between a butcher and a fashion model?
What Happened On
O.J. Simpson Murders
June 12, 1994
Football Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson's ex-wife and her friend Ronald Goldman are murdered at her home. Simpson was later arrested for the murders and then subsequently found not guilty in what was called "The Trial of the Century." Goldman was there returning glasses Nicole's mother had left at the restaurant where he worked.
Reagan speaking in front of the Berlin Wall
Reagan speaking in front of the Berlin Wall
Tear Down This Wall!
June 12, 1987
U.S. President Ronald Reagan makes his famous proclamation, "Tear down this Wall!", in a speech calling for the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to tear down the Berlin Wall that had divided West and East Berlin since 1961. The Berlin wall would ultimately come down in 1989.
Interracial Marriage Legalized
June 12, 1967
The banning of interracial marriage is ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, bringing to an end such laws in 16 states. The case was brought by Mildred Loving, a woman of color, and Richard Loving, a white man, who had been sentenced to a year in prison in Virginia for marrying each other. After becoming pregnant, the couple went to Washington D.C. to marry in order to avoid Virginia law which made marriage between whites and non-whites a crime. After returning, the police raided their home finding the couple in bed together. Sex between interracial couples was also a crime in Virginia. The Lovings pleaded guilty to "cohabiting as man and wife, against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth" and were sentenced to one year in prison, with the sentence suspended on condition that the couple leave Virginia and not return together for at least 25 years. In 1964, the couple requested that judgments be vacated, only to receive the judge's response, "Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix." The case eventually went to the U.S. Supreme Court.
June 12th is now known as "Loving Day."
John and Clarence Anglin (top), Frank Morris and dummy head (bottom)
John and Clarence Anglin (top), Frank Morris and dummy head (bottom)
Escape from Alcatraz
June 12, 1962
Alcatraz Prison inmates Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin are found to be missing from their cells. They had escaped their cells and left the island in a raft they constructed from stolen raincoats during the night. They dug holes through their cell walls using spoons, saw blades, and a drill they made out of a vacuum cleaner motor. They then used dummy heads they made out of a home-made papier-mâché-like mixture of soap, toothpaste, concrete dust, and toilet paper, and with hair from the barbershop floor to make it look as if they were sleeping in their beds.
After the escape was discovered, a 10-day search ensued. A wallet with the names, addresses, and photos of the Anglins' friends and relatives was found off the southern shore of Angel Island. Raincoat material, believed to be remnants of the raft, was found on a beach not far from the Golden Gate Bridge. It is generally believed by authorities that the men drowned and did not survive the escape attempt, but their bodies were never found.
In 2013, San Francisco Police Department received a letter allegedly written by John Anglin claiming that Frank Morris died in 2008 and was buried in Alexandria under a different name, and that Clarence Anglin died in 2011. The letter alleged Anglin had cancer and wanted to strike a deal with the FBI, offering to be locked up again for a year in exchange for medical care. The authenticity of the letter has never been determined.
A fourth inmate was supposed to escape with them, but he was late leaving his cell and was left behind.
Army Flag
June 12, 1956
The 181-year-old U.S. Army adopts its first official flag. It consists of a blue Department of the Army seal above a scarlet scroll on a white background. Prior to this, the Army was the only armed service without a flag to represent the entire branch of the service.
First Baseball Game
June 12, 1839
According to a 1907 report, commissioned by major league baseball executives, Abner Doubleday taught his new game to military cadets in Cooperstown, New York on this date. Modern historians, however, dispute this information, citing the first game as being played in 1846.
First American to Win the Tour of Italy Bicycle Race
June 12, 1988
26-year-old Andy Hampsten wins one of the most important events in bike racing.
Baseball's First Mid-Season Strike
June 12, 1981
Professional Baseball's first mid-season strike begins.
First Man-Powered Flight Across the English Channel
June 12, 1979
26-year-old American Bryan Allen pedaling the 70-pound Gossamer Albatross, designed by Paul MacCready. The 22-mile flight took 2 hours and 49 minutes.
Civil-Rights Activist Killed
June 12, 1963
Medgar Evers, the NAACP's Mississippi field secretary, is shot to death outside his home. Byron De La Beckwith, whose fingerprints were found on the murder weapon, was tried twice in 1965, but all-white juries failed to reach a verdict.
First Jockey to Win the Triple Crown Twice
June 12, 1948
Eddie Arcaro riding Citation to win the Belmont Stakes - having already won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He had previously won the Triple Crown in 1941.
First American to Win the British Women's Amateur Golf Tournament
June 12, 1947
Baseball Hall of Fame
June 12, 1939
The national museum and Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York is dedicated. The first inductees - selected in 1936 - were Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, and Christy Mathewson.
First Championship Boxing Match Decided on a Foul
June 12, 1930
Jack Sharkey (U.S.) knocks Max Schmeling (Germany) down with a low blow in the 4th round of the world championship fight at the New York City Polo Grounds. Schmeling was awarded the heavyweight championship and became known as the "Low Blow Champion." The fight was billed as the "Battle of the Continents."
Philippines Declare Independence
June 12, 1898
The Philippines declare independence from Spain.
Iowa
June 12, 1838
The territory of Iowa is established by the U.S. Congress.
Birthdays
Nabors as Gomer Pyle
Nabors as Gomer Pyle
Jim Nabors
Born June 12, 1930 d. 2017
American actor, singer. TV: The Andy Griffith Show (1962-64, Gomer Pyle) and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964-69, Gomer Pyle). For over 30 years, he sang Back Home Again in Indiana for the opening ceremonies of the Indianapolis 500. His character, Gomer Pyle, was made an honorary Marine.
Anne Frank
Born June 12, 1929 d. 1945
Dutch-Jewish war victim. Her diary, which chronicled her family and friends hiding in an attic from the Germans, has been read by millions. She died in a Nazi concentration camp.
George H. W. Bush (George Herbert Walker Bush)
Born June 12, 1924 d. 2018
American politician. 41st U.S. President (1989-93), 43rd U.S. Vice-President (1981-89), Director of Central Intelligence (1976-77), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1971-73), and U.S. House of Representatives (1967-71, Texas). After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bush enlisted in the U.S. Navy and became the youngest aviator in the U.S. Navy at the time. He is the father of 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush.
Zhora Salome
Born June 12, 2016
Blade Runner android. Assassin, Nexus-6 replicant, in the 1982 film Blade Runner, played by Joanna Cassidy.
Reg Presley
Born June 12, 1941 d. 2013
British singer, with the Troggs. Music: Wild Thing (1966, #1).
Vic Damone (Vito Farinola)
Born June 12, 1928 d. 2018
American singer. Music: You're Breaking My Heart (1949, #1) and On The Street Where You Live (1956 from My Fair Lady).
The Master of Disaster
Irwin Allen
Born June 12, 1916 d. 1991
American producer, "The Master of Disaster." TV: Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964-68), Lost in Space (1965-68), The Time Tunnel (1966-67), and Land of the Giants (1968-70). Film: The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and The Towering Inferno (1974).
David Rockefeller
Born June 12, 1915 d. 2017
American banker, chairman and chief executive of Chase Manhattan Corporation. His fortune was estimated at $3.3 billion at the time of his death. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army in North Africa and France for military intelligence during World War II.
William Lundigan
Born June 12, 1914 d. 1975
American radio announcer, actor. He appeared in over 120 films. TV: Climax! (1954-56, host).
Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge
Born June 12, 1851 d. 1940
English physicist, spiritualist, pioneer in wireless telegraphy. He was the first to send Morse code using radio waves. A believer in psychic phenomenon, he wrote a book about his after-life communications with his son who was killed in WWI.
Charles Kingsley
Born June 12, 1819 d. 1875
English clergyman, author. Writings: Westward Ho! (1855).
John Augustus Roebling
Born June 12, 1806 d. 1869
German-born American civil engineer. He was the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge. His use of wire rope enabled him to build suspension bridges thought impossible by other engineers. He died of tetanus from injuries received while inspecting the Brooklyn Bridge.
Deaths
Mr. Wizard
Don Herbert (Donald Herbert Kemske)
Died June 12, 2007 b. 1917
American TV personality. TV: Watch Mr. Wizard (1951-65, Mr. Wizard) and Mr. Wizard's World (1983-90). Herbert and Bill Murray were the first guests on Late Night with David Letterman when it premiered in 1982.
Gregory Peck
Died June 12, 2003 b. 1916
American Oscar-winning actor. Film: Roman Holiday (1953), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962, Oscar), and The Omen (1976).
Bill Blass
Died June 12, 2002 b. 1922
American fashion designer.
Leo Buscaglia
Died June 12, 1998 b. 1924
American educator, author, hugger. While teaching at USC, a student's suicide moved him to contemplate human disconnectedness and the meaning of life, leading to his first book, LOVE. At one time he had five books on the New York Times Best Sellers List simultaneously.
Ronald Goldman
Died June 12, 1994 b. 1968
American murder victim. He and Nicole Brown Simpson were murdered together. O.J. Simpson was tried and found not guilty of the crime. Goldman was returning Nicole's mother's glasses to Nicole when he was murdered. Nicole's mother had left the glasses at the restaurant where Goldman worked.
Nicole Brown Simpson
Died June 12, 1994 b. 1959
American murder victim, ex-wife of O.J. Simpson. She and her friend Ronald Goldman were found murdered at her home. O.J. Simpson was tried and found not guilty of the crime.
Milburn Stone
Died June 12, 1980 b. 1904
American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Gunsmoke (1955-75, Doc Galen Adams).
Jimmy Dorsey
Died June 12, 1957 b. 1904
American bandleader of the Big Band Era, brother of Tommy.
Father of American Poets
William Cullen Bryant
Died June 12, 1878 b. 1794
American poet, called the "Father of American Poets." He is considered to be the first noteworthy American poet.
Saint Leo III
Died June 12, 816 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 96th Pope (795-816).