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On June 20, 1782, Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States after six years of discussion. The seal depicts a bald eagle clutching an olive branch in its right talon and arrows in its left. On its breast appears a shield marked with 13 vertical red and white stripes topped by a bar of blue. The eagle’s beak clutches a banner inscribed, E pluribus unum, a Latin phrase meaning “Out of Many One.”- On June 26, 1807, lightning hits a gunpowder factory in Luxembourg, killing more than 300 people. When lightning struck the underground armory, two entire blocks were leveled by the blast.
- On June 21, 1916, the controversial U.S. military expedition against Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa brings the U.S. and Mexico close to war when Mexican troops attack U.S. Gen. John J. Pershing’s force at Carrizal, Mexico. The Americans suffered 22 casualties, and more than 30 Mexicans were killed.
- On June 25, 1942, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower becomes commander of all U.S. troops in the European theater of World War II. He would be appointed Supreme Allied Commander of all forces in Europe in 1943. “Ike” would later become America’s 34th president.
- On June 24, 1953, Jacqueline Bouvier and Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy publicly announce their engagement. Kennedy gave her a 2.88-carat diamond-and-emerald ring. He went on to become the 35th president and Jackie became one of the most popular first ladies ever.
- On June 22, 1964, Dan Brown, author of the “The Da Vinci Code,” is born in New Hampshire. Brown’s bestselling novels are known for symbols, conspiracies and secret societies.
- On June 23, 1992, Mafia boss John Gotti, nicknamed the “Teflon Don,” is sentenced to life in prison. Moments later, hundreds of Gotti’s supporters stormed the federal courthouse in Brooklyn and overturned and smashed cars before being forced back by police reinforcements.
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