History Today

Today in History — June 17

1972

17 June 1972: Watergate Break-in Sparks Political Scandal

On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C. What initially appeared to be a minor burglary would eventually unravel into…

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More from the Archive

1963

16 June 1963: Valentina Tereshkova Becomes First Woman in Space

On June 16, 1963, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova made history by becoming the first woman to travel into space. Launched aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft, she orbited Earth 48 times over the course of nearly…

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1775

14 June 1775: Continental Army Established

On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the creation of the Continental Army, establishing what would become the United States Army and marking a decisive step toward organized military resistance against British rule. This…

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