HomeToday in HistoryWhat Happened on May 17

What Happened on May 17

Ehud Barak becomes Prime Minister of Israel
During his tenure, Barak attempted to revive the peace negotiations with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). However, his efforts were unsuccessful.

The WHO deletes homosexuality from its list of mental diseases
Precisely 14 years later, the first same-sex marriages in the United States were performed as Massachusetts became the first state to legalize them.

Germany ratifies the Treaty of Warsaw
Chancellor Willy Brandt signed the treaty, by which Germany gives up any territorial claims and guarantees the Oder-Neisse line as the valid border to Poland.

The U.S. Supreme Court declares racially segregated public schools unconstitutional
Despite this landmark decision, de facto racial segregation was upheld for years in some areas of the United States.

  • 1956 Sugar Ray Leonard
    American boxer, actor
  • 1946 Udo Lindenberg
    German singer-songwriter, drummer
  • 1936 Dennis Hopper
    American actor, director
  • 1866 Erik SatieFrench pianist, composer
  • 1836 Wilhelm Steinitz
    Austrian/American chess player
  • 2011 Harmon Killebrew
    American baseball player
  • 1996 Johnny “Guitar” Watson
    American singer, guitarist
  • 1875 John C. Breckinridge
    American general, politician, 14th Vice President of the United States
  • 1829 John Jay
    American jusrist, politician, 1st Chief Justice of the United States
  • 1510 Sandro Botticelli
    Italian painter

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