Today in History.....January 19

On this day in …

* 1937, millionaire Howard Hughes set a transcontinental air record by flying his monoplane from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey, in seven hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds

* 1944, the federal government relinquished control of the nation's railroads following settlement of a wage dispute

* 1955, a presidential news conference was filmed for television for the first time, with the permission of President Eisenhower

* 1981, the United States and Iran signed an agreement paving the way for the release of 52 Americans held hostage for more than 14 months

* 2000, in a deal sparing himself possible indictment, President Clinton acknowledged for the first time making false statements under oath about Monica Lewinsky. He also surrendered his law license for five years, which ended today.

* 2004, previewing his second inauguration, President Bush pledged to seek unity in a nation divided by political differences, saying, "I am eager and ready for the work ahead." ALSO: Condoleezza Rice won strong but not unanimous endorsement as secretary of state from a Senate panel. The American Cancer Society reported that cancer had passed heart disease as the top killer of Americans age 85 and younger.