Todayâs Highlight in History: On May 8, 1984, the Soviet Union announced it would boycott the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. On this date: In 1541, Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River. In 1660, the British Parliament moved to restore the monarchy by declaring that Charles II had been the countryâs lawful king since the execution of his father, Charles I, in 1649. In 1846, the first major battle of the Mexican-American War was fought at Palo Alto, Texas; U.S. forces led by Gen. Zachary Taylor were able to beat back Mexican forces. In 1886, Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton began selling the original version of Coca-Cola, which heâd invented.