Today in History

Today is Sunday, Jan. 8, the eighth day of 2012. There are 358 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 8, 1982, American Telephone and Telegraph settled the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit against it by agreeing to divest itself of the 22 Bell System companies.

On this date:

In 1798, the 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited a citizen of one state from suing another state in federal court, was declared in effect by President John Adams nearly three years after its ratification by the states.

In 1815, U.S. forces led by Gen. Andrew Jackson defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans -- the closing engagement of the War of 1812.

In 1912, the African National Congress was founded in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Actor Jose Ferrer was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson outlined his "Fourteen Points" for lasting peace after World War I. Mississippi became the first state to ratify the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which established Prohibition.

In 1935, rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Miss.

In 1959, Charles de Gaulle was inaugurated as president of France's Fifth Republic.

In 1962, at least 91 people were killed when two trains collided head-on in Harmelen in the Netherlands.

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a "War on Poverty" in his State of the Union address.

In 1973, the Paris peace talks between the United States and North Vietnam resumed.

In 1987, for the first time, the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 2,000, ending the day at 2,002.25.

In 1989, 47 people were killed when a British Midland Boeing 737-400 carrying 126 people crashed in central England.

In 1992, President George H.W. Bush collapsed during a state dinner in Tokyo; White House officials said Bush was suffering from stomach flu.

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act, the most far-reaching federal education bill in nearly four decades. The Most Rev. George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, announced his retirement as spiritual leader of the world's 70 million Anglicans. Ozzie Smith, regarded as the finest-fielding shortstop ever, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first try. Wendy's fast food chain founder Dave Thomas died in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., at age 69.

Five years ago: A Moroccan (Mounir el Motassadeq) convicted of aiding three of the four suicide pilots who had committed the Sept. 11 attacks was sentenced by a German court to the maximum of 15 years in prison for his role in the terror plot. The Florida Gators won college football's national championship by defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 41-14. Actress Yvonne De Carlo died in Woodland Hills, Calif., at age 84.

One year ago: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot and critically wounded when a gunman opened fire as the congresswoman met with constituents in Tucson; six other people were killed, 12 others also injured. (Jared Lee Loughner has pleaded not guilty to 49 charges in connection with the shooting.) Both Super Bowl teams from 2010 lost on the first day of the NFL playoffs; the Seattle Seahawks stunned the defending champion New Orleans Saints 41-36 while the New York Jets ended the night with a last-second 17-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Today's Birthdays: Former Independent Counsel Lawrence E. Walsh is 100. Actor-comedian Larry Storch is 89. Actor Ron Moody is 88. Broadcast journalist Sander Vanocur is 84. CBS newsman Charles Osgood is 79. Singer Shirley Bassey is 75. Game show host Bob Eubanks is 74. Country-gospel singer Cristy Lane is 72. Rhythm-and-blues singer Anthony Gourdine (Little Anthony and the Imperials) is 71. Actress Yvette Mimieux is 70. Physicist Stephen Hawking is 70. Rock musician Robby Krieger (The Doors) is 66. Rock singer David Bowie is 65. Movie director John McTiernan is 61. Actress Harriet Sansom Harris is 57. Singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith is 48. Actress Maria Pitillo is 47. Actress Michelle Forbes is 47. Singer R. Kelly is 45. Rock musician Jeff Abercrombie (Fuel) is 43. Actress Ami Dolenz is 43. Reggae singer Sean Paul is 39. Country singer Tift Merritt is 37. Actress-rock singer Jenny Lewis is 36. Actress Amber Benson is 35. Actor Scott Whyte is 34. Singer-songwriter Erin McCarley is 33. Actress Sarah Polley is 33. Actor Windell D. Middlebrooks is 33. Actress Rachel Nichols is 32. Actress Gaby Hoffman is 30. Rock musician Disashi Lumumbo-Kasongo (Gym Class Heroes) is 29.

Thought for Today: "Anxiety never yet successfully bridged over any chasm." -- Giovanni Ruffini, Italian writer (1807-1881).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.