Saturday, January 17, 1998
Today's events
In College Park, Maryland, the NAACP holds a summit on employment discrimination in the federal workplace.
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On the horizon
On Sunday, January 18, the Golden Globe awards are presented in Los Angeles.
On Monday, January 19, the Conference on Disarmament holds its first session in Geneva.
On Tuesday, January 20, the trial of Melissa Drexler,
a 19-year-old accused of killing her newborn after giving birth
during her high school prom, is scheduled to start.
On Wednesday, January 21, Pope John Paul II begins his first visit to Cuba.
On Thursday, January 22, National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League chapters hold events marking the 25th
anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision.
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On this day
In 1377, Pope Gregory XI restored the Papal See to Rome after
it was removed from Avignon.
In 1562, the edict of Saint Germain took effect by which the
Huguenots were recognized in France. On the same day, the Duke
of Guise and the Cardinal of Lorraine formed a union to block
the edict.
In 1601, the treaty of Lyons was signed between France, Spain and
Savoy under which Henry IV gained Bresse, Bugey, Gex and
Valromey.
In 1706, Benjamin Franklin, U.S. statesman and scientist,
was born. He was one of the leaders in the American Revolution and assisted in writing the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.
In 1773, the Resolution, under Capt. James Cook, became the
first ship to cross the Antarctic Circle.
In 1781, the English were defeated by American militia under
Daniel Morgan at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina.
In 1806, James Madison Randolph became the first baby to be
born in the White House, to Martha Jefferson Randolph, daughter
of President Thomas Jefferson.
In 1852, Britain recognized the independence of Transvaal in
the Sand River Convention.
In 1874, the original Siamese Twins, Chang and Eng, died. Born
in Thailand of Chinese parents and joined at the chest, they
were sold and exhibited in Europe and America.
In 1893, Rutherford Hayes, the 19th U.S. president, died. He was
the only president to be elected by an electoral commission
following a disputed ballot.
In 1912, Capt. Robert Scott and his expedition reached the
South Pole, one month after Norway's Roald Amundsen.
In 1916, the Professianal Golfers' Association was formed.
In 1919, classical pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski became prime
minister of Poland. He became involved in politics during World
War II and was responsible for persuading U.S. President Woodrow
Wilson to include a paragraph on Polish independence in his
famous "Fourteen Points."
In 1949, the trial on subversion charges of the top leaders of
the U.S. Communist Party began in New York.
In 1959, Senegal and the French Sudan agreed to form the
Republic of Mali, effective in April.
In 1966, a U.S. B-52 bomber collided in midair with a
refueling tanker over Spain; eight were killed and the bomber
released its H-bomb into the Atlantic.
In 1977, double murderer Gary Gilmore became the first person
to be executed in the United States since the reintroduction of the
death penalty.
In 1983, Nigeria expelled an estimated 2 million illegal
immigrants.
In 1991, in the Gulf War, U.S.-led allied forces launched
"Operation Desert Storm," an air and missile offensive against
Iraqi positions.
In 1995, more than 6,400 people were killed after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake jolted Kobe, Japan.
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Newslink
Holidays and more
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali is 56.
Actor James Earl Jones is 67.
Actor Jim Carrey is 36.
Actor David Caruso is 42.
Actor Troy Donahue is 61.
Actress Sheree North is 65.
Talk show host Maury Povich is 59.
Hair stylist Vidal Sassoon is 70.
Actress Betty White is 74.
Singer Paul Young is 42.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan
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