On this day in 1961, United States President John F. Kennedy sent 18,000 military advisors to South Vietnam.
On this day in 1963, the first push-button telephone went into service.
On this day in 1988, U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law allowing the death penalty for drug traffickers.
On this day in 1993, 21 political parties in South Africa approved a new constitution, expanding voting rights and ending white minority rule