Today in History

Today is Tuesday, Jan. 28, the 28th day of 2020. There are 338 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 28, 1973, a cease-fire officially went into effect in the Vietnam War, a day after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords by the United States, North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

On this date:

In A.D. 814, Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne died in Aachen in present-day Germany.

In 1547, England's King Henry VIII died; he was succeeded by his 9-year-old son, Edward VI.

In 1813, the novel "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen was first published anonymously in London.

In 1878, the first daily college newspaper, Yale News (now Yale Daily News), began publication in New Haven, Connecticut.

In 1911, the notorious Hope Diamond was sold by jeweler Pierre Cartier to socialites Edward and Evalyn McLean of Washington, D.C., for $180,000.

In 1915, the American merchant vessel SS William P. Frye, en route to England with a cargo of wheat, became the first U.S. ship to be sunk during World War I by a German cruiser, the SS Prinz Eitel Friedrich, even though the United States was not at war.

In 1916, Louis D. Brandeis was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson to the Supreme Court; Brandeis became the court's first Jewish member.

In 1956, Elvis Presley made his first national TV appearance on "Stage Show," a CBS program hosted by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.

In 1960, the National Football League awarded franchises to Dallas and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

In 1977, actor-comedian Freddie Prinze, 22, co-star of the NBC-TV show "Chico and the Man," shot and mortally wounded himself at the Beverly Comstock Hotel (he died the following day).

In 1980, six U.S. diplomats who had avoided being taken hostage at their embassy in Tehran flew out of Iran with the help of Canadian diplomats.

In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, killing all seven crew members, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.

Ten years ago: Major world powers opened talks in London seeking an end to the conflict in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden announced $8 billion in federal grants for high-speed rail projects nationwide during a visit to Tampa, Florida. Embattled Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke won Senate confirmation for a second term.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama phoned Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to congratulate him on his party's election victory and told him the U.S. would work closely with Greece to help it pursue long-term prosperity. At a farewell ceremony for Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Obama called him a true American patriot who devoted his life to the United States.

One year ago: The Justice Department unsealed criminal charges against Chinese tech giant Huawei, a top company executive and several subsidiaries, alleging that the company stole trade secrets and violated U.S. sanctions. A U.S. envoy said negotiators for the United States and Taliban insurgents had reached "agreements in principle" on key issues for a peace deal that would end 17 years of war in Afghanistan.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Nicholas Pryor is 85. Actor Alan Alda is 84. Actress Susan Howard is 78. Actress Marthe Keller is 75. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., is 73. Actress-singer Barbi Benton is 70. Evangelical pastor Rick Warren is 66. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is 65. Actress Harley Jane Kozak is 63. Movie director Frank Darabont is 61. Rock musician Dave Sharp is 61. Rock singer Sam Phillips is 58. Rock musician Dan Spitz is 57. Country musician Greg Cook (Ricochet) is 55. Gospel singer Marvin Sapp is 53. Singer Sarah McLachlan is 52. Rapper Rakim is 52. DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill) is 52. Actress Kathryn Morris is 51. Humorist Mo Rocca is 51. Rock/soul musician Jeremy Ruzumna (Fitz and the Tantrums) is 50. Rhythm-and-blues singer Anthony Hamilton is 49. Singer Monifah is 48. Actress Gillian Vigman is 48. Rock musician Brandon Bush is 47. Retired MLB All-Star Jermaine Dye is 46. Actress Terri Conn is 45. Singer Joey Fatone Jr. ('N Sync) is 43. Rapper Rick Ross is 43. Actress Rosamund Pike is 41. Actress Angelique Cabral is 41. Singer Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys) is 40. Actor Vinny Chhibber is 40. Actor Elijah Wood is 39. Rapper J. Cole is 35. Actress Alexandra Krosney is 32. Actor Yuri Sardarov is 32. Actress Ariel Winter is 22.

Thought for Today: "It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow." -- Robert H. Goddard, American rocket engineer (1882-1945).

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