On this day: June 17
Europe’s First Recorded Automobile Fatality, June 17, 1896
On 17 June 1896 a tragic collision in England produced the first widely reported automobile fatality in Europe, highlighting early tensions over motor vehicles, road safety, and regulation during the transition from horse-drawn transport to motorized traffic.
First Public Demonstration of Weather Modification Held in 1947
On June 17, 1947, a public demonstration of cloud seeding and other weather-modification techniques was reported, marking an early, controversial moment in attempts to intervene in atmospheric processes.
Champion Arrested Hours After Title Defense in 1972
On June 17, 1972, a reigning boxing champion who had defended his title earlier that day was arrested hours after the fight. The incident quickly drew national attention and raised questions about the circumstances and legal basis for the arrest.
O.J. Simpson's nationally televised slow-speed chase in a white Bronco
On June 17, 1994, former NFL star O.J. Simpson was the subject of a widely watched low-speed police pursuit in a white Ford Bronco driven by his friend Al Cowlings, broadcasting live across U.S. television networks and halting regular programming.
The 1956 Dartmouth Workshop: First Public Demonstration of AI Concepts
On June 17, 1956, the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence convened, marking the first organized public presentation and discussion of ideas that would define AI research—symbolically launching the field though many concepts were already circulating.
Five arrested inside Democratic National Committee headquarters during Watergate break-in
On June 17, 1972, five men were arrested inside the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C., after a nighttime burglary that would trigger a major political scandal and lead to investigations implicating Nixon administration figures.