June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 197 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about June 17th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about June 17th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- World Tessellation Day
- National Eat Your Vegetable Day
- National Apple Strudel Day
- World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
- National Flip Flop Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – June 17
1972: The arrest of five White House operatives sets off the Watergate scandal
The men were caught attempting to wiretap the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex. The scandal ultimately led to U.S. President Richard Nixon’s resignation.
1944: Iceland becomes a republic
The Nordic island country had previously been included in the Norwegian and Danish monarchies. The republic’s first President was Sveinn Björnsson.
1940: The three Baltic states fall under Soviet occupation
While the world’s attention was focused on the recent German invasion of Paris, the Soviet Union annexed Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
1928: Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic
Wilmer Stultz piloted the Fokker F.VII aircraft, Earhart kept the flight log. They arrived at Burry Port in Wales, the United Kingdom, 20 hours and 40 minutes later.
1885: The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York
Hundreds of thousands of spectators welcomed the emblematic statue, which was a gift to the United States from the people of France and has become one of the country’s most recognized symbols.
1989: A West German border guard greets East German motorists into the country, in 1989.
1970: Charles Manson and his lawyer, Irving Kanarek at the trial for the Tate – LaBianca murders. 1970.
1944: Young Queen Elizabeth II, 1944
1900: A Pike’s Peak prospector. St Peters, Colorado ca 1900
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, June 17
1980: Venus Williams, American tennis player
1945: Ken Livingstone, British politician
1945: Eddy Merckx, Belgian cyclist
1898: M. C. Escher, Dutch illustrator
1882: Igor Stravinsky, Russian composer
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, June 17
2012: Rodney King, American victim of police brutality
1996: Curt Swan, American illustrator
1981: Richard O’Connor, British army general
1898: Edward Burne-Jones, British artist
1025: Bolesław I Chrobry