History Today

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on June 8th. How to interpret the U.S. Constitution--it’s a hotly debated topic today, just as the ratification of the famed document itself was way back on this day in 1791, when James Madison proposed the Bill of Rights to Congress. Madison had been tasked with drafting amendments to the Constitution that preserved states rights’ and individual liberties.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on June 7th. Fans of the movie Grease rejoiced last month to the news that Paramount Pictures is at work on a prequel to the Sandy and Danny story, to be called, of course, Summer Lovin’. But the story behind the popular original movie actually got its start as a Broadway musical, playing the first of more than 3,000 performances on this day in 1972.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on June 6th. It was the defining moment of a generation--75 years ago today, General Dwight Eisenhower led Allied forces in the D-Day invasion of France, beginning the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany during World War II.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on June 5th. With the gun debate nearly always in the news, we look back 51 years, when another act of gun violence topped the headlines: Senator Bobby Kennedy was assassinated by a 22-year-old gunman on this day in 1968. Kennedy was shot immediately after he announced his California presidential primary win at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. His murder came just two months after Martin Luther King, Jr.

On this day in History: Battle of Midway began, 19th Amendment passed, and Tiananmen Square massacre.

On this day in History: Crack down on Tiananmen protests began and John Adams moved to D.C.

On this day in History: Grover Cleveland gets married, American Civil War ended, and Babe Ruth retired.

On this day in History: Hello Norma Jean, Benedict Arnold court-martialed, and good-bye Helen Keller.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on May 31st. Big Ben--the huge clock tower above London's Houses of Parliament--is one of Europe's top tourist destinations. But lately tourists haven't gotten to see much--as most of the iconic clock and tower is covered in scaffolding while Big Ben undergoes a four-year, $80 million restoration. The tune up comes 160 years after the famous clock started ticking on this day in 1859.

Hello, and welcome to This Day in History. Here’s what happened on May 30th. She’s one of the most famous women in history, who is still admired around the world hundreds of years after her legendary military exploits--Joan of Arc was burned at the stake on this day in 1431. Joan was just a teenager when she claimed voices told her to expel English forces from France and ensure the heir to the throne—Charles—was successfully crowned the next king.