Today In Historys!

Joan of Arc: Led her army into Orléans in victory over the English (1429)

Dachau: Concentration camp was liberated by US soldiers (1945)

Los Angeles race riots: Began after the acquittal of police officers accused of beating Rodney King (1992)

Rent: Rock musical opened on Broadway; the Manhattan-set retelling of La bohème went on to win several Tonys, a Pulitzer and many other awards (1996)


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Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Duke Ellington

1969: The highest civilian award for distinguished Americans and humanitarians, The Presidential Medal of Freedom, was awarded to Duke Ellington at a black-tie affair at the White House in honor of the composer's 70th birthday. President Nixon presented the award. Part of the citation reads, "For more than forty years he has helped to expand the frontiers of jazz, while at the same time retaining in his music the individuality and freedom of expression that are the soul of jazz." Duke Ellington was a major force in jazz and always tailored his music to suit the talents of the musicians in his band. Today his music continues to be influential. In 1973, Ellington also received the Legion of Honor from France, which is the highest civilian honor in that country.