FOLKLORE-L Archives

Archiver > FOLKLORE > 2000-01 > 0947335867


From: Mary Minnich< >
Subject: [FOLKLORE] Today in History - Jan 8th
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 07:51:07 -0500


Today is Saturday, January eighth, the eighth day of 2000.
There are 358 days left in the year.


Today's Highlight in History:
On January eighth, 1935, rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley was born
in Tupelo, Mississippi.

On this date:
In 1642, astronomer Galileo Galilei died in Arcetri, Italy.

In 1815, US forces led by General Andrew Jackson defeated the British
in the Battle of New Orleans -- the closing engagement of the War of
1812.

In 1894, fire caused serious damage at the World's Columbian
Exposition in Chicago.

In 1918, President Wilson outlined his 14 points for peace after World
War One.

In 1918, Mississippi became the first state to ratify a proposed
amendment to the US Constitution prohibiting the sale, manufacture or
transportation of liquor.

In 1964, President Johnson declared a "War on Poverty."

In 1973, secret peace talks between the United States and North
Vietnam resumed near Paris.

In 1976, Chinese premier Chou En-lai died in Beijing at age 78.

In 1982, American Telephone and Telegraph settled the Justice
Department's antitrust lawsuit against it by agreeing to divest itself
of the 22 Bell System companies.

In 1987, for the first time, the Dow Jones industrial average closed
above 2000, ending the day at 2002.25.

Ten years ago: Military tribunals in Romania began trying the first
captured members of the country's dreaded security forces, who stood
accused of resisting the revolution that toppled Nicolae Ceausescu.

Five years ago: Russian forces in Chechnya pounded the capital of
Grozny with rocket and mortar fire in an attempt to scatter Chechen
fighters defending the presidential palace.

One year ago: By a unanimous vote, senators formally ratified the
rules for President Clinton's impeachment trial. The top two
executives of Salt Lake City's Olympic organizing committee resigned
amid disclosures that civic boosters had given cash to members of the
International Olympic Committee.

Today's Birthdays:
Actor-comedian Larry Storch is 77.
Actor Ron Moody is 76.
Comedian Soupy Sales is 74.
Broadcast journalist Sander Vanocur is 72.
CBS newsman Charles Osgood is 67.
Singer Shirley Bassey is 63.
Country-gospel singer Cristy Lane is 60.
Physicist Stephen Hawking is 58.
Rock musician Robby Krieger (The Doors) is 54.
Rock singer David Bowie is 53.
Movie director John McTiernan is 49.
Actress Maria Pitillo is 35.
Singer R. Kelly is 31.
Actress Jenny Lewis is 24.
Actress Gaby Hoffman ("Now and Then") is 18.

Thought for Today:

"Curses are like processions. They return to the place from which they
came."
-- Giovanni Ruffini, Italian writer (1807-1881).


(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

This thread: