12 History Lessons + 7 Births & 7 Deaths for January 8, 2026
Today’s History:
- 1790 – President George Washington delivers the first-ever Annual Message to Congress (the first State of the Union) at Federal Hall in New York City, establishing a major civic tradition.
- 1815 – The Battle of New Orleans ends in a decisive U.S. victory, the last major battle of the War of 1812—famously fought after the peace treaty had already been signed.
- 1867 – The District of Columbia Suffrage Act takes effect, granting voting rights to eligible men in Washington, D.C., without race-based restrictions—an early federal expansion of Black voting rights.
- 1912 – The South African Native National Congress is founded (later renamed the African National Congress), creating the core political organization that would lead the anti-apartheid movement.
- 1918 – President Woodrow Wilson presents his “Fourteen Points,” outlining U.S. war aims and a blueprint for post–World War I peace built around self-determination and a League of Nations concept.
- 1964 – In his State of the Union, Lyndon B. Johnson declares an “unconditional war on poverty,” setting the tone for major Great Society-era programs.
- 1973 – The Watergate burglars go on trial, a key legal milestone that accelerates the scandal’s move from “break-in story” to constitutional crisis.
- 1982 – The U.S. Justice Department and AT&T announce a settlement that becomes the foundation for the breakup of the Bell System monopoly (the “Baby Bells” era).
- 1998 – Ramzi Yousef is sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, a major terrorism case of the pre-9/11 era.
- 2011 – The Tucson shooting targets Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at a constituent event, killing six and wounding many more—an inflection point in America’s modern gun-violence debate.
- 2016 – Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is recaptured in Mexico, ending a months-long hunt after his dramatic prison escape.
- 2020 – Iran launches missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq amid a major regional escalation; hours later, Iran mistakenly shoots down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, killing everyone aboard.
Today’s Birthdays:
- 1946 – Robby Krieger – American guitarist from The Doors (80)
- 1947 – Don Bendell – American author and former Green Beret (79)
- 1947 – Igor Ivanov – Russian-born Canadian chess champion (79)
- 1948 – Gillies Mackinnon – Scottish film director and writer of Playboys (78)
- 1949 – John Podesta – American political strategist and presidential adviser (77)
- 1951 – John McTiernan – American director of Predator, Die Hard and Medicine Man (74)
- 1955 – Mike Reno – Canadian rock vocalist from Loverboy (71)
Today’s Deaths:
- 1324 – Marco Polo – Venetian merchant and traveler whose accounts helped shape Europe’s view of Asia and the Silk Road world. (c. 70)
- 1642 – Galileo Galilei – Italian scientist whose work in astronomy and motion helped ignite the modern scientific revolution. (77)
- 1825 – Eli Whitney – American inventor best known for the cotton gin and for advancing interchangeable-parts manufacturing. (59)
- 1941 – Robert Baden-Powell – British army officer and founder of the Scout movement, shaping youth development worldwide. (83)
- 1976 – Zhou Enlai – Chinese premier and major 20th-century statesman who shaped early PRC governance and diplomacy. (77)
- 1996 – François Mitterrand – French president (1981–1995) who led France through major European integration and domestic political shifts. (79)
- 2016 – Otis Clay – American soul and gospel singer celebrated for electrifying live performances and deep Chicago roots. (73)
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