June 27

Today in History - June 27



Today is Friday, June 27, the 179th day of 2008. There are 187 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 27, 1957, more than 500 people were killed when Hurricane Audrey slammed through coastal Louisiana and Texas.

On this date:

In 1844, Mormon leader Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were killed by a mob in Carthage, Ill.

In 1846, New York and Boston were linked by telegraph wires.

In 1944, during World War II, American forces completed their capture of the French port of Cherbourg from the Germans.

In 1950, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution calling on member nations to help South Korea repel an invasion from the North.

In 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York's Greenwich Village; patrons fought back in clashes considered the birth of the gay rights movement.

In 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, struck down state laws and bar association rules that prohibited lawyers from advertising their fees for routine services.

In 1977, the Republic of Djibouti became independent of France.

In 1986, the International Court of Justice at The Hague ruled that the United States had broken international law and violated the sovereignty of Nicaragua by aiding the Contras.

In 1988, Mike Tyson retained the undisputed heavyweight crown as he knocked out Michael Spinks 91 seconds into the first round of a championship fight in Atlantic City, N.J.

In 1988, 57 people were killed in a train collision in Paris.

Ten years ago: During a joint news conference beamed live to hundreds of millions of homes across China, President Clinton and President Jiang Zemin offered an uncensored airing of differences on human rights, freedom, trade and Tibet. An earthquake in Ceyhan, Turkey, killed 144 people.

Five years ago: More than 735,000 phone numbers were registered on the first day of a national do-not-call list aimed at blocking unwelcome solicitations from telemarketers.

One year ago: Former Treasury chief Gordon Brown became British prime minister, succeeding Tony Blair. In her first televised interview since being released from custody, a demure Paris Hilton told CNN's Larry King she would never again drink and drive and that her time in jail was "a time-out in life."

Today's Birthdays: Business executive Ross Perot is 78. The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Army General John Shalikashvili, is 72. Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt is 70. Singer-musician Bruce Johnston (The Beach Boys) is 66. Actress Julia Duffy is 57. Actress Isabelle Adjani is 53. Country singer Lorrie Morgan is 49. Actor Brian Drillinger is 48. Writer-producer-director J.J. Abrams is 42. Actor Yancey Arias is 37. Actor Tobey Maguire is 33. Gospel singer Leigh Nash is 32. Actor Drake Bell is 22. Actor Ed Westwick is 21. Actress Madylin Sweeten is 17.

Thought for Today: "The highest purpose is to have no purpose at all." — John Cage, American composer (1912-1992).