May 31st

The widest tornado ever recorded hits El Reno, Oklahoma. The storm had a width of 4.2 km (2.6 mi). Nine people were killed as it swept over rural areas of Central Oklahoma.

Nine people are dead after an Israeli navy commando attacks a flotilla of cargo ships and passenger boats on their way to Gaza to provide aid and supplies for the area.

Dr. George Tiller, a provider of late-term abortions, was shot and killed in a Wichita, Kan., church. (Gunman Scott Roeder was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.).

Usain Bolt breaks the world record in the 100m sprint, with a wind-legal (+1.7m/s) 9.72 seconds.

Former FBI official W. Mark Felt stepped forward as "Deep Throat," the secret Washington Post source that helped bring down President Richard M. Nixon during the Watergate scandal.

Alberta Martin, 97, one of the last widows of a U.S. Civil War veteran, died. She had married Confederate veteran William Martin in 1927 when she was 21 and he was 81.

Eric Rudolph, suspected in bombings at a Birmingham. Ala., abortion clinic and at the Atlanta Olympics, was arrested outside a grocery store in Murphy, N.C. (He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four life terms.).

The United States announced it was no longer aiming long-range nuclear missiles at targets in the former Soviet Union.

Leaders of Angola's two warring factions signed a peace treaty, ending a 16-year civil war.

The sitcom "Seinfeld" premiered on NBC.

The trans-Alaska oil pipeline was completed after three years of work.

An earthquake in Peru left more than 50,000 dead.

Gestapo official Adolf Eichmann was hanged in Israel for his role in the Holocaust.

South Africa became an independent republic as it withdrew from the British Commonwealth.

Communists seize power in Hungary.

7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Quetta in Balochistan, British Raj (Pakistan) killing approx 50,000.

Battle of Jutland (Skagerrak): naval battle between British Grand Fleet and German High Seas Fleet: over 8,500 die in this inconclusive slaughter - although the German fleet never put to sea again.

The 17th Amendment to the Constitution, providing for the popular election of U.S. senators, was declared in effect.

The hull of the Titanic was launched in Belfast. At the ceremony, a White Star Line employee claimed, “Not even God himself could sink this ship.”.

Union of South Africa declares its independence from the United Kingdom.

Heavy rains caused the South Fork Dam to collapse, sending 20 million tons of water into Johnstown, Pa. Over 2,200 people were killed and the town was nearly destroyed.

Werner von Siemens presents the world's first electric locomotive. Von Siemens' landmark invention was soon used in trams. 1881 saw the introduction of the world's first electric tram in Berlin, Germany.

The Big Ben clock tower in London went into operation.

Poet Walt Whitman was born in West Hill, N.Y.

The first U.S. Copyright Law was enacted, protecting books, maps, and other original materials.

Martin Frobisher sails from Harwich, England, to Frobisher Bay, Canada, eventually to mine fools gold, used to pave streets in London.

Rameses II (The Great) (19th dynasty) becomes Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.