On This Day - June 12
Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Let's look back at some of the most significant events in America and beyond that happened on this day, starting with...
1917: The US Secret Service extended its protection of the President to include his family.
The US Secret Service, which had been guarding presidents since 1901 following President McKinley’s assassination, officially expanded its protective duties to include the President’s immediate family. This pivotal change reflected the growing recognition of threats not just to the commander-in-chief, but to those closest to him.
1931: Al Capone was indicted on 5,000 counts of prohibition and perjury.
Notorious gangster Al Capone was indicted on a staggering 5,000 counts related to Prohibition violations and perjury. The charges marked a critical turn in the federal government’s efforts to clamp down on organized crime. Though Capone was eventually convicted of tax evasion in 1931, this sweeping indictment reflected the sheer scale of his criminal enterprise.
1942: Anne Frank received her diary as a birthday present in Amsterdam.
On her 13th birthday, Anne Frank received a red-and-white checkered diary in Amsterdam. What began as a simple birthday gift would become one of the most poignant and enduring personal accounts of the Holocaust, offering generations a deeply human perspective on life in hiding under Nazi occupation.
1964: Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison in South Africa.
In Pretoria, South Africa, anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of sabotage during the Rivonia Trial. Mandela would serve 27 years behind bars before becoming the symbol of resistance that led South Africa into a new democratic era—and eventually its first Black president.
1965: Sonny & Cher made their 1st TV appearance on American Bandstand.
Pop duo Sonny & Cher made their first television appearance on American Bandstand. Performing their early single, the couple’s charisma and fashion-forward style quickly captivated viewers. Just months later, their hit “I Got You Babe” would rocket them to superstardom, cementing their place in pop culture history.
Do you remember any of these events? Or do you have more events (historical or not!) you'd like to share with the community? Post them below and let's reminisce together!
