This day in history

[January 22, 2009]  (AP)  Today is Thursday, Jan. 22, the 22nd day of 2009. There are 343 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Jan. 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court, in its Roe v. Wade decision, legalized abortions using a trimester approach.

On this date:

In 1901, Britain's Queen Victoria died at age 81.

In 1905 (New Style calendar), thousands of demonstrating Russian workers were fired on by Imperial army troops in St. Petersburg on what became known as "Bloody Sunday."

In 1909, actress Ann Sothern was born in Valley City, N.D.; U.N. Secretary-General U Thant was born in Pantanaw, Burma.

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson pleaded for an end to war in Europe, calling for "peace without victory." (By April, however, America also was at war.)

In 1922, Pope Benedict XV died; he was succeeded by Pius XI.

In 1944, during World War II, Allied forces began landing at Anzio, Italy.

In 1959, 12 workers were killed in the Knox Mine Disaster in Port Griffith, Pa., when a mine became flooded with water from the Susquehanna River.

In 1973, former President Lyndon B. Johnson died at age 64.

In 1984, the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 to win Super Bowl XVIII, played at Tampa Stadium in Florida. (The game broadcast on CBS-TV featured Apple Computer's famous "1984" ad introducing the Macintosh PC.)

In 1995, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy died at the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 104.

Ten years ago: Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., abruptly called for dismissal of charges against President Bill Clinton to "end this sad and sorry time for our country." Clinton called for spending $2.8 billion to protect the nation from cyber terrorism and chemical and germ warfare. Pope John Paul II arrived in Mexico on his first visit in 20 years.

Five years ago: South Dakota politician Bill Janklow was sentenced to 100 days in jail for an auto accident that killed a motorcyclist. Enron Corp.'s former top accountant, Richard Causey, surrendered to federal authorities; he pleaded innocent to conspiracy and fraud charges. (Causey later pleaded guilty to securities fraud and was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison.) Actress-dancer Ann Miller died in Los Angeles at age 81.

One year ago: Actor Heath Ledger was found dead of an accidental prescription overdose in New York City; he was 28. Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting with al-Qaida to blow up a radioactive "dirty bomb," was sentenced by a U.S. federal judge in Miami to 17 years and four months on terrorism conspiracy charges. Republican Fred Thompson quit the race for the White House after a string of poor finishes in early primary and caucus states.

Today's birthdays: Former Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind., is 81. Actress Piper Laurie is 77. Actor Seymour Cassel is 74. Author Joseph Wambaugh is 72. Actor John Hurt is 69. Singer Steve Perry is 60. Country singer-musician Teddy Gentry (Alabama) is 57. Movie director Jim Jarmusch is 56. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Mike Bossy is 52. Actress Linda Blair is 50. Actress Diane Lane is 44. Actor-rap DJ Jazzy Jeff is 44. Country singer Regina Nicks (Regina Regina) is 44. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marc Gay (Shai) is 40. Actor Gabriel Macht is 37. Actor Balthazar Getty is 34. Actor Christopher Kennedy Masterson is 29. Pop singer Willa Ford is 28. Actress Beverley Mitchell is 28. Rock singer-musician Ben Moody is 28.

Thought for today: "Advertising has done more to cause the social unrest of the 20th century than any other single factor." -- Clare Boothe Luce, American author, politician and diplomat (1903-1987)

[Associated Press]

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