Today in History...January 4

On this day in …

1796, the House of Representatives accepts the 'Colors,' or flag, of the French Revolutionary Republic, proclaiming it 'the most honorable testimonial of the existing sympathies and affections of the two Republics.'

1904, the Supreme Court ruled that Puerto Ricans were not aliens and could enter the United States freely; however, the court stopped short of declaring them U.S. citizens
1935, Billboard magazine publishes its first pop-music chart based on national sales figures. A song called "Stop! Look! Listen!" by jazz violinist Joe Venuti topped the first chart

1951, during the Korean conflict, North Korean and Communist Chinese forces captured the city of Seoul

1965, in his State of the Union address, President Lyndon Baines Johnson lays out for Congress a laundry list of legislation needed to achieve his plan for a 'Great Society.'

1974, President Nixon refused to hand over tape recordings and documents subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee

1995, the 104th Congress convened, the first entirely under Republican control since the Eisenhower era

1999, for the first time since Charlemagne's reign in the 9th Century, Europe is united with a common currency when the "euro" debuts as a financial unit in corporate and investment markets

2001, Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, was killed by small-arms fire during an ambush in eastern Afghanistan; he was the first American military death from enemy fire in the war against terrorism

2005,


Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a significant stroke; his official powers were transferred to his deputy, Ehud Olmert

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed that Jose Padilla, held for 3 1/2 years as an "enemy combatant," could be transferred to civilian authorities in Miami