Today in History - Jan. 14

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Today is Wednesday, Jan. 14, the 14th day of 2009. There are 351 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 14, 1969, 27 people aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise were killed when a rocket warhead exploded, setting off a fire and additional explosions that ripped through the ship off Hawaii.

 

In 1639, the first constitution of Connecticut — the "Fundamental Orders" — was adopted.

In 1784, the United States ratified a peace treaty with England, ending the Revolutionary War.

In 1858, French emperor Napoleon III escaped an attempt on his life.

In 1900, Puccini's opera "Tosca" had its world premiere in Rome.

In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and French General Charles de Gaulle opened a wartime conference in Casablanca.

In 1952, NBC's "Today" show premiered, with Dave Garroway as the host, or "communicator," as he was officially known.

In 1953, Josip Broz Tito was elected president of Yugoslavia by the country's Parliament.

In 1963, George C. Wallace was sworn in as governor of Alabama with a pledge of "segregation forever."

In 1970, Diana Ross and the Supremes performed their last concert together, at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas.

In 1993, talk show host David Letterman announced he was moving from NBC to CBS.

Ten years ago: Before a jury of 100 silent senators, House prosecutors demanded President Bill Clinton's removal from office, charging he had "piled perjury upon perjury" and obstructed justice.

Five years ago: Former Enron finance chief Andrew Fastow pleaded guilty to conspiracy as he accepted a 10-year prison sentence. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. struck a deal to buy Bank One Corp. for $58 billion. A female Palestinian suicide bomber killed three Israeli soldiers and a private security guard at a Gaza crossing. U.N. officials announced that Libya had ratified the nuclear test ban treaty. President George W. Bush unveiled a plan to send astronauts to the moon, Mars and beyond. Death claimed actress Uta Hagen in New York at age 84 and actor Ron O'Neal in Los Angeles at age 66.

One year ago: Republican Bobby Jindal, the first elected Indian-American governor in the United States, took office in Louisiana. Alvaro Colom was sworn in as Guatemala's first leftist president in more than 50 years.

Thought for Today: "The most exciting happiness is the happiness generated by forces beyond your control." — Ogden Nash, American author-humorist (1902-1971).