Today in History

Today is Monday, Jan. 23, the 23rd day of 2012. There are 343 days left in the year.

Today's Highlights in History:

On Jan. 23, 1962, Jackie Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Tony Bennett recorded "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," by George Cory and Douglass Cross, in New York for Columbia Records.

On this date:

In 1789, Georgetown University was established in present-day Washington, D.C.

In 1812, the second New Madrid Earthquake struck, with an estimated magnitude of 7.5, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In 1845, Congress decided all national elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

In 1932, New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.

In 1937, 17 people went on trial in Moscow during Josef Stalin's "Great Purge." (All were convicted; all but four were executed.)

In 1943, critic Alexander Woollcott suffered a fatal heart attack during a live broadcast of the CBS radio program "People's Platform."

In 1950, the Israeli Knesset approved a resolution affirming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In 1960, the U.S. Navy-operated bathyscaphe (BATH'-ih-skahf) Trieste carried two men to the deepest known point in the Pacific Ocean, reaching a depth of more than 35,000 feet.

In 1964, the 24th amendment to the Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified.

In 1968, North Korea seized the Navy intelligence ship USS Pueblo, charging its crew with being on a spying mission. (The crew was released 11 months later.)

In 1973, President Richard Nixon announced an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War.

In 1981, American composer Samuel Barber died in New York at age 70.

Ten years ago: Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was abducted in Karachi, Pakistan, by a group demanding the return of prisoners from the Afghan campaign; he was later murdered. John Walker Lindh, a U.S.-born Taliban fighter, was returned to the United States to face criminal charges that he'd conspired to kill fellow Americans. Kenneth Lay stepped down as chairman and chief executive of Enron Corp.

Five years ago: In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush implored Congress to give his plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq a chance to work. A new rule requiring U.S. airline passengers to show a passport upon their return from Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean took effect. E. Howard Hunt, who'd helped organize the Watergate break-in, leading to the downfall of Richard Nixon's presidency, died in Miami, Fla., at age 88.

One year ago: Allies and adversaries of President Hugo Chavez took to the streets of Caracas by the thousands, staging rival demonstrations to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Venezuela's democracy. Fitness guru Jack LaLanne died in Morro Bay, Calif., at age 96. The Pittsburgh Steelers advanced to their third Super Bowl in six years with a 24-19 victory over the New York Jets to win the AFC championship. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears, 21-14, in the NFC championship game.

Today's Birthdays: Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., is 88. Actress Jeanne Moreau is 84. Actress Chita Rivera is 79. Actor-director Lou Antonio is 78. Actor Gil Gerard is 69. Actor Rutger Hauer is 68. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jerry Lawson (The Persuasions) is 68. Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., is 65. Singer Anita Pointer is 64. Actor Richard Dean Anderson is 62. Rock musician Bill Cunningham is 62. Rock singer Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) is 59. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is 59. Princess Caroline of Monaco is 55. Singer Anita Baker is 54. Reggae musician Earl Falconer (UB40) is 53. Actress Gail O'Grady is 49. Actress Mariska Hargitay is 48. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marc Nelson is 41. Actress Tiffani Thiessen is 38. Rock musician Nick Harmer (Death Cab for Cutie) is 37. Christian rock musician Nick DePartee (Kutless) is 27.

Thought for Today: "It's not what you are, it's what you don't become that hurts." -- Oscar Levant, pianist-composer-actor (1906-1972).

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.