What Happened On This Day ? May 17
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1999
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.
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1990
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.
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1972
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.
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1954
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.
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1943
The Royal Air Force dambusters wreck three German dams
The RAF squadron used revolutionary bouncing bombs to avoid the torpedo nets protecting the dams. The audacious air raid was depicted in a 1954 war film.
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2011
Harmon Killebrew
American baseball player
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1996
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
American singer, guitarist
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1875
John C. Breckinridge
American general, politician, 14th Vice President of the United States
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1829
John Jay
American jusrist, politician, 1st Chief Justice of the United States
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1510
Sandro Botticelli
Italian painter