March 20
Today in America's Present Past
1760 | The great fire of Boston destroyed 349 buildings.
1852 | Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was published.
1856 | Engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor was born.
1868 | Outlaw Jesse James Gang robed a bank in Russellville, Kentucky.
1896 | Marines land in Nicaragua to protect US citizens.
1906 | Actor Oswald “Ozzie” Nelson was born.
1922 | Actor Carl Reiner was born.
1922 | The first aircraft carrier, the USS Langley, was commissioned.
1925 | Politician John Ehrlichman was born.
1926 | Engineer Harold Rosen was born.
1928 | Entertainer Fred Rogers was born.
1930 | Harland Sanders opened his first restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky that became the precursor to Kentucky Fried Chicken.
1933 | Giuseppe Zangara was executed for the attempted assassination of President Roosevelt.
1943 | Poet Gerard Malanga was born.
1950 | Actor William Hurt was born.
1952 | WWII: Final ratification of peace treaty restoring sovereignty to Japan.
1957 | Director Spike Lee was born.
1968 | POTUS: Democrat President Johnson signed legislation removing gold backing of the US dollar.
1973 | Politician Ronna McDaniel was born.
1986 | Civil Rights: New York City passed the first lesbian and gay rights legislation.
1996 | Erik & Lyle Menendez was found guilty of killing their parents.
1999 | Admiral Roy Johnson died.
2003 | U.S. invaded Iraq.
2016 | POTUS: Democrat President Obama became the first President since 1928 to visit Cuba.
2020 | Entertainer Kenny Rogers died.