This Date in History - January 20

 

Happy birthday in Heaven, Arte Johnson.   Do they have Walnettos there?

250:  EMPEROR DECIUS BEGINS A WIDESPREAD PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN ROME.   POPE FABIAN IS MARTYRED.

Cardinal Bobby Rydell was spared.

1265:  THE FIRST ENGLISH PARLIAMENT TO INCLUDE NOT ONLY LORDS BUT ALSO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MAJOR TOWNS HOLDS ITS FIRST MEETING, NOW KNOWN AS THE HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT.

That had to be on my very first world history quiz.

1576:  THE MEXICAN CITY OF LEON IS FOUNDED.

So?

1649:  CHARLES I OF ENGLAND GOES ON TRIAL FOR TREASON AND OTHER "HIGH CRIMES."

I want to know what those high crimes constitute.

1788:  THE THIRD AND MAIN PART OF FIRST FLEET ARRIVES AT BOTANY BAY.  THEY DECIDE THAT IT IS UNSUITABLE FOR THE LOCATION OF A PENAL COLONY.

Is it me or is January 20 a pretty boring day in history?

1841:  HONG KONG ISLAND IS OCCUPIED BY THE BRITISH.

Those Brits sure did get their mitts around some nifty cities and countries.

1887:  THE UNITED STATES SENATE ALLOWS THE NAVY TO LEASE PEARL HARBOR AS A NAVAL BASE.

Let us know how that works out.

1894:  CARTOONIST HAROLD GRAY IS BORN.

And, in a way, so is Little Orphan Annie.

1896:  COMIC GEORGE BURNS IS BORN.

Made it all the way to 100, he did.

1920:  ACTOR DEFOREST KELLEY IS BORN.

Beamed up.

1920:  THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION IS FOUNDED.

Troublemakers.

1929:  COMIC ARTE JOHNSON IS BORN.

Vvvvery interesting.   

1930:  ASTRONAUT BUZZ ALDRIN IS BORN.

One small step.  Oh, wait...that was the other guy.

1937:  ACTRESS DOROTHY PROVINE IS BORN.

She was kind of hot back in the day.

1941:  A GERMAN OFFICER IS MURDERED IN BUCHAREST, ROMANIA, SPARKING A REBELLION AND POGROM BY THE IRON GUARD.

Pogrom always looks misspelled.

1942:  WORLD WAR II - SENIOR NAZI GERMAN OFFICIALS DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE "FINAL SOLUTION TO THE JEWISH QUESTION."

Diabolical bastards.

1945:  WORLD WAR II - THE MIKLOS PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF HUNGARY AGREES TO AN ARMISTICE WITH THE ALLIES.

Who was worried about Hungary as a world threat??

1946:  DIRECTOR DAVID LYNCH IS BORN.

Who did kill Laura Palmer?

1949:  POINT FOUR PROGRAM, ECONOMIC AID TO POOR COUNTRIES, IS ANNOUNCED BY PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS.  

What about poor people here?

1954:  IN THE US, THE NATIONAL NEGRO NETWORK IS ESTABLISHED WITH 40 RADIO STATIONS.

Hey, that's an N word, too.

1956:  TV HOST BILL MAHER IS BORN.

Idiot.

1958:  ACTOR LORENZO LAMAS IS BORN.

Son of Fernando Lamas and Arlene Dahl.

1981:  TWENTY MINUTES AFTER RONALD REAGAN IS INAUGURATED, IRAN RELEASES 52 AMERICAN HOSTAGES.

The basic FU to Jimmy Carter.

1984:  ACTOR JOHNNY WEISSMULLER DIES.

Cheeta was devastated.

1986:  IN THE US, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY IS CELEBRATED AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

And will continue...as long as it's on a Monday.

1990:  ACTRESS BARBARA STANWYCK DIES.

Alleged had a long time affair with Agnes Moorehead.

1991:  SUDAN'S GOVERNMENT IMPOSES ISLAMIC LAW NATIONWIDE, WORSENING THE CIVIL WAR IN THE COUNTRY.

Like it's out of today's headlines.

1993:  ACTRESS AUDREY HEPBURN DIES.

No breakfast today.

1998:  WRESTLER BOBO BRAZIL DIES.

Inventor of the famed Cocoa Butt in the head.

2007:  A THREE-MAN TEAM, USING ONLY SKIS AND KITES, COMPLETES A 1,093-MILE TREK TO REACH THE SOUTHERN POLE OF INACCESSIBILITY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1958 AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WITHOUT MECHANICAL ASSISTANCE.

And this is a big deal why?

2009:  BARACK OBAMA IS INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

I could have listed all the Presidents inaugurated on this date, but who really cares?

2012:  SINGER ETTA JAMES DIES.

At last.

2017:  DONALD TRUMP IS INAUGURATED AS THE 45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

And, in 2020.....fill in the blank.

Dinner last night:  Leftover tri-tip.