Today in 1784, Benjamin Franklin complained to his daughter that making the bald eagle America’s National Bird was a terrible idea. He wrote that the eagle was “a Bird of bad moral Character…too lazy to fish for himself.” By contrast, the turkey was “a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.”
Today in 1915, Congress established the Rocky Mountain National Park.
Today in 1934, the Apollo Theater opened in New York City.
Today in 1960, Janet G. Travell became the first woman to be the personal physician to the President. When Kennedy won the Presidential race in 1960, he appointed her as his personal physician. Her treatments included the use of a rocking chair to help alleviate pain, which led to the popularization of the furniture piece among Americans. She continued to serve as Personal Physician to the President following Kennedy’s assassination, with his successor Lyndon B. Johnson. She continued through Johnson's re-election, but decided to leave the White House in 1965.
Today in 1992, Washington beat Buffalo 37-24 in Super Bowl XXVI.
Today in 1992, following the Super Bowl, Bill and Hillary Clinton appeared on “60 Minutes.” The purpose of the interview was to deny allegations that Clinton had had an affair with Gennifer Flowers, an Arkansas cabaret singer. Along the way, Hillary famously went after those who snarked about her defense of her husband, by dissing the First Lady of country music. “I’m not sitting here You know, I'm not sitting here – some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette,” she told Steve Kroft. “I'm sitting here because I love him, and I respect him.”
Today in 1996, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton testified before a grand jury connected to the Whitewater probe.
Today in 1997, The Green Bay Packers beat the New England Patriots 35-to-21 to win their first Super Bowl in 29 years.
Today in 1998, President Clinton forcefully denied having an affair with a White House intern, making the now-infamous statement, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
Today in 2005, Condoleezza Rice was sworn in, becoming the first female African American Secretary of State.
Today in 2013, the United States Sentencing Commission was hacked by Anonymous in response to the suicide of Aaron Swartz, who had been facing federal charges of wire fraud and computer fraud.
Today in 2016, Robert LaVoy Finicum, the leader of Oregon militia occupying Malheur wildlife refuge arrested and another killed in a shoot-out with Federal agents.