Today is Sunday, Jan. 14, the 14th day of 2007. There are 351 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Jan. 14, 1784, the United States ratified a peace treaty with England, ending the Revolutionary War.
On this date:
In 1639, the first constitution of Connecticut — the “Fundamental Orders” — was adopted.
In 1858, French emperor Napoleon III escaped an attempt on his life.
In 1900, Puccini’s opera “Tosca” received a mixed reception at its world premiere in Rome.
In 1943, President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and French General Charles de Gaulle opened a wartime conference in Casablanca.
In 1952, NBC’s “Today” show premiered, with Dave Garroway as the host, or “communicator,” as he was officially known.
In 1953, Josip Broz Tito was elected president of Yugoslavia by the country’s Parliament.
In 1957, 50 years ago, actor Humphrey Bogart died in Los Angeles at age 57.
In 1963, George C. Wallace was sworn in as governor of Alabama with a pledge of “segregation forever.”
In 1969, 27 people aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier Enterprise were killed in an explosion that ripped through the ship off Hawaii.
In 1970, Diana Ross and the Supremes performed their last concert together, at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas.
Ten years ago: The House ethics committee’s ranking Democrat, Jim McDermott of Washington state, removed himself from the investigation of Speaker Newt Gingrich, bowing to pressure concerning his role in the handling of an illegally taped phone call involving the House leader.
Five years ago: Two members of Congress released excerpts of a letter to Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay the previous August in which Enron executive Sherron Watkins warned of the reckless practices that eventually brought down the energy-trading giant. The World Trade Organization decided the European Union could ask for punitive tariffs on U.S. imports. NBC’s “Today” show celebrated its golden anniversary.
One year ago: The chief judge in Saddam Hussein’s trial (Rizgar Mohammed Amin) submitted his resignation (he was succeeded by Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman). Johnny Weir won his third straight title at the U.S. Figure Skating championships; Sasha Cohen won the women’s division; Michelle Kwan was given a berth on the U.S. Olympic figure skating team. Academy Award-winning actress Shelley Winters died in Beverly Hills, Calif., at age 85.
Today’s Birthdays: CBS commentator Andy Rooney is 88. Blues singer Clarence Carter is 71. Country singer Billie Jo Spears is
70. Singer Jack Jones is 69. Singer-songwriter Allen Toussaint is
69. NAACP Chairman Julian Bond is 67. Actress Faye Dunaway is 66. Actress Holland Taylor is 64. Actor Carl Weathers is 59. Singer-producer T-Bone Burnett is 59. Movie writer-director Lawrence Kasdan is 58. Rock singer Geoff Tate (Queensryche) is 48. Movie writer-director Steven Soderbergh is 44. Actor Mark Addy is
43. Fox News Channel anchorman Shepard Smith is 43. Rapper Slick Rick is 42. Actor Dan Schneider is 41. Actress Emily Watson is 40. Actor-comedian Tom Rhodes is 40. Rock musician Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne Band) is 40. Rapper-actor LL Cool J is 39. Actor Jason Bateman is 38. Rock singer-musician Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) is
38. Actress Jordan Ladd is 32.
Thought for Today: “Dignity is like a perfume; those who use it are scarcely conscious of it.” — Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689).