Today in History

Four Los Angeles police offices are acquitted of charges stemming from the beating of Rodney King. Rioting ensues.

Harold Washington is sworn in as Chicago’s first black mayor.

The U.S. embassy in Vietnam is evacuated as North Vietnamese forces fight their way into Saigon.

Former Japanese leaders are indicted in Tokyo as war criminals.

The Nazi concentration camp of Dachau is liberated by Allied troops.

The film All Quiet on the Western Front, based on Erich Maria Remarque’s novel Im Western Nichts Neues, premiers.

Construction of the Spirit of St. Louis is completed.

Open revolt breaks out in Santa Clara, Cuba.

America’s WWI Ace of Aces, Eddie Rickenbacker, scores his first victory with the help of Captain James Norman Hall.

Irish nationalists surrender to the British in Dublin.

Gideon Sundback of Hoboken patents the all-purpose zipper.

Hirohito, emperor of Japan during and after World War II.

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington, renowned jazz composer and musician.

Sir Thomas Beecham, founder of the London Philharmonic.