Fri, March 20: A Day of Infamy and Intrigue

From FBI collusion claims to a deadly factory explosion, this date in history is marked by pivotal events.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:04pm

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March 20th has been a day of significant historical moments, from the FBI's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in 2017, to a deadly factory explosion in Brockton, Massachusetts in 1905. This date has seen a range of events, including a loaded gun dropping in a state capitol hearing room, the invasion of Iraq, and the execution of a would-be presidential assassin.

Why it matters

The events of March 20th over the years highlight the diverse and often tumultuous nature of history, touching on themes of politics, crime, war, and industrial disasters. Understanding these moments provides context for how the past has shaped the present, and the ongoing challenges societies face.

The details

In 2017, then-FBI Director James Comey told Congress that the Trump campaign and Russia may have colluded, sparking a major political controversy. In 2012, a loaded .45 pistol belonging to New Hampshire state representative Kyle Tasker dropped to the floor of a packed hearing room. The U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, citing the threat of weapons of mass destruction, while in 1992 a UN weapons inspector said Iraq had agreed to destroy its WMDs. In 1976, Patricia Hearst, the granddaughter of press baron William Randolph Hearst, was convicted of bank robbery. And in 1905, a boiler explosion at the Grover Shoe Factory in Brockton, Massachusetts led to a deadly fire that killed 58 workers.

  • On March 20, 2017, then-FBI Director James Comey told Congress the Trump campaign and Russia may have colluded.
  • On March 20, 2012, one of two loaded .45 pistols carried by New Hampshire state representative Kyle Tasker dropped to the floor of a packed hearing room.
  • On March 20, 2003, U.S. troops invaded Iraq to protect the homeland from Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction.
  • On March 20, 1992, UN weapons inspector Rolf Ekeus said Iraq had agreed to destroy its weapons of mass destruction.
  • On March 20, 1905, a boiler explosion at the Grover Shoe Factory in Brockton, Massachusetts led to a deadly fire that killed 58 workers.

The players

James Comey

Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Kyle Tasker

Former Republican state representative from Northwood, New Hampshire who legally carried two loaded .45 pistols in shoulder holsters.

Rolf Ekeus

Former UN weapons inspector who said in 1992 that Iraq had agreed to destroy its weapons of mass destruction.

William Randolph Hearst

American newspaper publisher and media magnate whose granddaughter Patricia Hearst was convicted of bank robbery in 1976.

Giuseppe Zangara

Would-be assassin of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who was executed in 1933 for killing the mayor of Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The events of March 20th over the years demonstrate the complex and often turbulent nature of history, touching on themes of politics, crime, war, and industrial disasters. Understanding these moments provides valuable context for how the past has shaped the present, and the ongoing challenges societies continue to face.