Today in 1899, Jacob German of New York City became the first driver to be arrested for speeding. The posted speed limit was 12 miles per hour.
Today in 1952, the first hydrogen bomb dropped from an aircraft from America, over Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific. It was the first test of the “improved” H-Bomb. The successful test by Americans meant that the ante in the nuclear arms race had been seriously upped – and it was. The Soviets began testing their version of the H-Bomb in 1953.
Today in 1989, Gilda Radner died in her sleep after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was 43. Radner was one of the great comic geniuses of the 20th century, ranked up at the top with Lucille Ball and other comedy legends of the highest caliber.
Today in 1995, President Clinton announced that the two-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House would be permanently closed to motor vehicles as a security measure.
Today in 1996, the Supreme Court struck down a Colorado measure banning laws that would protect homosexuals from discrimination. In Romer v. Evans, the Court ruled that 6–3 that Colorado's Amendment 2, which would have voided existing gay rights laws in Colorado and prevented any new gay rights laws from taking effect, was unconstitutional.
Today in 2013, Yahoo purchased Tumblr for $1.1-billion…and promised “not to screw it up.”
Today in 2013, an EF5 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, killing at least 24 people, ininjuring more than 200 - and flattening 1,100 homes.
Today in 2015, David Letterman hosted the "Late Show with David Letterman" for the last time…after 33 years at the helm.
Today in 2017, President Donald Trump began his first foreign trip arriving in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Today in 2018, Justice Department says it was expanding its internal investigation into whether the FBI infiltrated Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.