On January 28, 1925, US Attorney General Harlan Fiske Stone became the first US Supreme Court nominee to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee, testifying for five hours.
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On January 27, 1967, representatives of over 60 nations signed the “Outer Space Treaty,” banning the orbiting of nuclear weapons. Review the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.
On January 27, 1973, representatives of the United States, North Vietnam, and South Vietnam signed the Paris Peace Accords, ending the Vietnam War. The US’s chief negotiator, Dr. Henry Kissinger, was awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in concluding the treaty and ending hostilities. Read important excerpts from the Paris Peace Accords [...]
On January 26, 1838, Tennessee became the first US state to pass a law prohibiting the general sale of alcohol; fines paid by lawbreakers were put towards the support of public schools. Read more about the history of Prohibition.
On January 26, 1950, India ratified its constitution, formally making the new country a republic. On the same day, Rajendra Prasad was inaugurated as the republic’s first president. The anniversary is celebrated today as Republic Day in India.
On January 25, 1971, Charles Manson and three women of his “family” were convicted of murder and conspiracy for the 1969 slayings of seven people, including actress Sharon Tate. Learn more about the trial of Charles Manson from Professor Douglas Linder of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
On January 25, 1981, Jiang Qing, the widow of Mao Zedong, was sentenced to death by a special court in China. The charges stemmed primarily from Jiang’s role in the Cultural Revolution. Saying “I was Chairman Mao’s dog. I bit whomever he asked me to bite,” Qing unsuccessfully argued that she was merely acting at [...]
On January 24, 1996, Jozef Oleksy, the Prime Minister of Poland, resigned after he was accused of spying for the Soviet Union. Former KGB officer Andrzej Milczanowski alleged that Oleksy had passed him classified information while serving as the Polish Minister of Internal Affairs. A military investigation was closed in April of 1996 for lack [...]
On January 24, 1993, retired US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who had spent much of his life fighting and supporting civil rights causes, died in Bethesda, Maryland. Learn more about the life and legal career of Thurgood Marshall.
On January 23, 1964, the 24th Amendment to the US Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified. Learn more about the 24th Amendment and poll taxes from the National Constitution Center.
