Today in History

Kenyan runner Yobes Ondieki becomes the first man to run 10,000 meters in less than 27 minutes.

Boris Yeltsin is sworn in as the first elected president of the Russian Federation, following the breakup of the USSR.

Coca-Cola Co. announces it will resume selling “old formula Coke,” following a public outcry and falling sales of its “new Coke.”

Adam Petty, race driver, first fourth-generation driver in NASCAR history; his death in 2000 contributed to NASCAR’s decision to mandate a kill switch on steering wheels.

In Seveso, near Milan, Italy, an explosion in a chemical factory covers the surrounding area with toxic dioxin. Time magazine has ranked the Seveso incident No. 8 on its list of the 10 worst environmental disasters.

Singer Bobbie Gentry records “Ode to Billie Joe,” which will become a country music classic and win 4 Grammys.

Alexia, princess of Greece and Denmark.

The satellite Telstar is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, beaming live television from Europe to the United States.

Belgium sends troops to the Congo to protect whites as the Congolese Bloodbath begins, just 10 days after the former colony became independent of Belgian rule.

Armistice talks between the United Nations and North Korea begin at Kaesong.

Folk singer Arlo Guthrie (“Alice’s Restaurant,” “City of New Orleans”), son of Woody Guthrie.

U.S. carrier-based aircraft begin airstrikes against Japan in preparation for invasion.

Arthur Ashe, American tennis player.

General Carl Spaatz becomes the head of the U.S. Air Force in Europe.

Germany begins the bombing of England.

Jerry Herman, songwriter.

Alice Munro, Canadian writer (Open Secrets, Friend of my Youth).

David Dinkins, first African-American mayor of New York City.

The trial of Tennessee teacher John T. Scopes opens, with Clarence Darrow appearing for the defense and William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution.

David Brinkley, broadcaster.

Saul Bellow, writer.

Ivie Anderson, jazz singer.

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performs the first successful open-heart surgery, without the benefit of penicillin or blood transfusion.

Wyoming becomes the 44th state.

Mary McLeod Bethune, educator, founder of Bethune-Cookman College and the National Council of Negro Women.

Marcel Proust, French novelist (Remembrance of Things Past).

Millard Fillmore is sworn in as the 13th president of the United States following the death of Zachary Taylor.

James Abbott McNeill Whistler, painter.

Camille Pissarro, French painter.

In support of the American Revolution, Louis XVI declares war on England.

The statue of King George III is pulled down in New York City.

The British crown claims New Hampshire as a royal colony.

The Catholic states in Germany set up a league under the leadership of Maximilian of Bavaria.

The Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes is driven from Tenochtitlan and retreats to Tlaxcala.

John Calvin, Protestant religious leader, founder of Calvinism.