[goofywife]

1950: North Korea invades South Korea
Armed forces from Communist North Korea invaded the American-supported republic of South Korea today when they crossed the 38th parallel, the boundary that divides the zones. It was unclear at first whether the United States would take direct military action to defend the nation. However, South Korean Ambassador John Myun Chang said during a conference at the State Department, "I don't think the United States will abandon us."

"The extent and purpose of the attacks remained unclear for hours after the first fragmentary reports of the invasion were received," reported The Cedar Rapids Gazette on June 25, 1950. "But shortly after noon, the Communists' radio at Pyongyang, the Northern capital, said that war had been declared effective at 11 a.m."

NOTE: Two days after the invasion, President Truman authorized the use of American forces to aid South Korea. The June 25 attacks marked the beginning of the Korean War, a conflict that lasted until 1953.

1981: Male-only draft registration declared constitutional
The U.S. Supreme Court declared today that Congress has the constitutional power to exclude women when authorizing a military draft registration. "Women's groups had cautioned that the outcome of the case would have significant impact on the legal future of equality between the sexes," informed the European Stars And Stripes on June 26, 1981. "But [Justice] Rehnquist said, 'This case is quite different from several of the gender-based discrimination cases we have considered.' He said Congress' deliberation 'clearly establishes that the decision to exempt women from registration was not the accidental byproduct of a traditional way of thinking about women.'"

1971: Titian artwork sells for more than $4 million
A 400-year-old painting by Italian artist Titian sold for $4,032,000 today at Christie's auction house in London. The masterpiece, called "The Death of Actaeon," was sold to American art dealer Julius Weitzner. At the time, it was the second highest price paid for a painting. "Only Velasquez's 'Juan de Parreja,' auctioned here last November to New York dealer Alec Wildenstein for $5,604,000, has carried a higher price tag, but Weitzner shrugged: 'The bids were so low – I thought they would go higher,'" explained The Odessa American on June 26, 1971. NOTE: The most expensive art sold to date is Jackson Pollock’s No. 5, for $140 million in 2006.

1951: CBS airs first color telecast
Seven sponsors paid $1,000 each for a one-minute ad today on the first commercial color television show. The historic program was transmitted by the Columbia Broadcasting System after the company won a battle against RCA-Victor in the Supreme Court. While color television sets were generally not available yet, it was estimated that about 40,000 people saw the first color program. "CBS said there are at least 1,000 sets in the New York area alone that have been home-built or home-converted for color broadcasts. CBS estimated that for the big premiere an average of 10 persons watch each of those sets," reported the Long Beach Press-Telegram on June 26, 1951.

1876: Custer is defeated at Little Bighorn
Lt. Col. George A. Custer and the 7th Calvary were annihilated by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians today during the Battle of Little Bighorn in the Montana Territory. "From the reports which have come to hand, it appears that, after assigning Major Reno with seven companies to attack the lower part of the Indian camp, and stationing three companies in reserve, Gen. Custer placed himself at the head of five companies – about 300 men – and dashed into a nest of three or four thousand Sioux warriors, the same men who, under Sitting Bull, recently defeated Gen. Crook on Rosebud Creek," explained The Decatur Republican on July 13, 1876. While Custer was respected for his military experience, a Chicago Tribune reporter called him "reckless, hasty and impulsive" in 1876.