Today in 1861, Florida voted to split from the United States.
Today in 1901, oil was discovered at the Spindletop oil field close to Beaumont, Texas
Today in 1911, Major Jimmie Erickson took the first photo from an airplane while flying over San Diego, California. See it HERE.
Today in 1920, the League of Nations officially founded in Geneva – and authorized the Treaty of Versailles, officially ending World War I with Germany.
Today in 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first American President to visit a foreign country during a war by sailing from Miami to Trinidad. His ultimate destination? Morocco for the Casablanca Conference with British Prime Minister Churchill.
Today in 1946, the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly took place with 51 nations represented.
Today in 1967, Senator Edward W. Brooke – a Republican – took his seat as the first popularly elected African American to the US Senate. He wasn’t the first, of course. That mantle is owned by Hiram Rhodes Revels, who was elected to the United States Senate (also as a Republican) to represent Mississippi in 1870 and 1871 during the Reconstruction era.
Today in 1984, for the first time in over a century, the United States and the Vatican established full diplomatic relations.
Today in 1990, the NCAA approved random drug testing for college football players.
Today in 1991, Congress began debate on Persian Gulf crisis. On January 12th, war was authorized.
Today in 1994, Lorena Bobbitt went on trial in Manassas, Virginia for maliciously wounding her husband. She was later acquitted by reason of temporary insanity.
Today in 1999, "The Sopranos" starring James Gandolfini as mobster Tony Soprano, debuted on HBO.
Today in 2000, the largest corporate merger ever (at the time) was announced. Time Warner agreed to buy America On-line (AOL), which was priced at $182-billion in stock…and the $350-billion monolith was born.
Today in 2005, a mudslide in La Conchita, California killed 10 people, injuring many more and closing the Highway 101, the main coastal corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles, for 10 days.