Today in HistoryToday is Wednesday, June 20, the 171st day of 2007. There are 194 days left in the year.

ON THIS DATE

In 1963, the United States and Soviet Union signed an agreement to set up a “hot line” between the two superpowers; it was opened on August 30.

In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of refusing to be drafted. (Ali’s conviction was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court).

In 1969, in Rhodesia, a referendum held on the proposed constitution resulted in a landslide victory for Ian Smith’s proposals for a republic.

In 1997, Russia pledged to stop targeting Japan with nuclear missiles in a major step to repair uneasy relations with Tokyo.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“The art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve change amid order.” — Alfred North Whitehead, English philosopher and mathematician (1861-1947).