Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

January 19

2003
Iraq War: Donald Rumsfeld on the cost of the war, "Well, the Office of Management and Budget, has come up come up with a number that's something under $50 billion for the cost."

1979
Watergate: Former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell is released on parole. He was the last Watergate convict in prison.

1977
Tokyo Rose: Pres. Ford pardons Tokyo Rose (Iva Toguri D'Aquino). In 1949 she was sentenced to 7-10 years in prison for treason during World War II.

1975
Nuclear Regulatory Commission: The government body to regulate the use of nuclear energy is established.

1955
First filming of a Presidential press conference: Pres. Eisenhower is filmed for television and news reels.

1915
World War I - First air raids on England: German Zeppelins begin bombing towns in East Anglia.

1903
First regular transatlantic radio broadcast: Broadcasts begin between Cape Cod, Mass. and Cornwall, England with greetings exchanged between King Edward VII and Pres. Roosevelt.

1861
Civil War: Georgia becomes the 5th state to secede from the Union.

1840
Antarctica: The Wilkes expedition discovers the continent and claims it for the U.S.

1825
Tin canning: The process of preserving food in tin cans is first patented in New York.

1953
Ricky Ricardo Jr. (Little Ricky), the fictional son of TV's Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. 68% of all US television sets were tuned in to watch.

1953
Desi Arnaz Jr., American child actor. TV: I Love Lucy (Little Ricky).

1949     d. 2003
Robert Palmer, British singer. Music: Addicted To Love (1986).

1946
Dolly Parton, American country singer, actress. Music: Here You Come Again (1978, #1), 9 to 5 (1980, #1). Film: Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) and Rhinestone (1984).

1944
Shelley Fabares (Michelle Fabares), American actress, singer. TV: The Donna Reed Show (Donna's daughter Mary) and Coach (Christine). Music: Johnny Angel (1962, #1).

1944
Laurie London, American singer. Music: He's Got the Whole World In His Hands (1958, #1).

1943     d. 1970
Janice Joplin, American singer. Music: Piece of My Heart (1968) and Me and Bobby McGee (1970, #1).

1942
Michael Crawford (Michael Dumble-Smith), British actor. Film: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972, the White Rabbit).

1939
Phil Everly, American singer, with brother Don. Music: Bye Bye Love (1957, #1), Wake Up Little Susie (1957), and Gone, Gone, Gone (1965).

1935
Tippi Hedren, American actress. Film: The Birds (1963). TV: The Birds II (1994).

1931
Robert MacNeil, Canadian-born news correspondent. TV: PBS's MacNeil/Lehrer Report.

1926
Fritz Weaver, American Tony-winning actor. Stage: Baker Street (Sherlock Holmes) and Child's Play (Tony).

1924     d. 1985
Nicholas Colasanto, American actor. TV: Cheers (Coach).

1923
Jean Stapleton (Jeanne Murray), American actress. TV: All in the Family (Edith Bunker).

1913     d. 1996
Minnesota Fats (Rudolf Wanderone Jr), American billiards wizard.

1905     d. 1995
Oveta Culp Hobby, American government official. She was the first secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps, and the first secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. She was the first woman in the Army to receive the Distinguished Service Medal.

1848     d. 1883
Matthew Webb, Navy Captain, first person to swim the English Channel without a life preserver (Aug 24-25, 1875).  He died attempting to swim across the Niagara River. (source: Guinness Book of World Records)

1809     d. 1849
Edgar Allen Poe, American poet, horror story writer. He created the literary genre of the detective story with The Murders of the Rue Morgue (1841). Writings: The Raven (1845).

1807     d. 1870
Robert Edward Lee, American soldier. He turned down the command of the U.S. Army to become commander of the Virginian forces during the Civil War.

1749     d. 1831
Isaiah Thomas, American printer. He published the first U.S. novel written by an American (1789, The Power of Sympathy).

1736     d. 1819
James Watt, British inventor, for whom the unit of power the 'watt' is named. He invented the modern condensing steam engine (1765).

2006     b. 1941
Wilson Pickett, American American R&B and soul singer. Music: In the Midnight Hour (1965, #1), Mustang Sally (1966), and 634-5789 (1966, #1).

2006     b. 1928
Anthony Franciosa (Anthony Papaleo), American actor. TV: The Name of the Game (Jeff Dillon) and Matt Helm (title role).

1997     b. 1916
Adriana Caselotti, Italian-American singer, actress.  She was the voice of Snow White in the 1937 Walt Disney classic, for which she was paid $970.

1990     b. 1931
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, Indian guru. During the 1970s, he had hundreds of thousands of followers known as the orange people - they wore only orange clothing. He once remarked, "So many religions look after the poor, leave the rich to me!"

1952     b. 1906
Curly (Jerome Howard), American comedian, one of the 3-Stooges.

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