1888 – Louisville, Kentucky, becomes first government in US to adopt Australian ballot (secret ballot on standard voting forms).
1893 – The American University is chartered by an act of Congress.
1914 – Frank Craven’s “Too Many Cooks” premieres in New York City.
1923 – Mass arrests in the United States of members of the Mafia.
1937 – First group hospital-medical cooperative authorized in Washington, D.C.
1942 – The “Battle of Los Angeles” takes place, a series of anti-aircraft engagements over the city in response to a rumored, but false, Japanese attack. It would last until the morning of the following day.
1942 – Voice of America begins broadcasting in German.
1951 – Men’s Figure Skating Championship in Milan won by Richard Button of the United States.
1955 – 12th Golden Globes: “On The Waterfront”, Marlon Brando and Judy Garland win.
1963 – 5th Daytona 500: Tiny Lund, driving for Wood Brothers Racing, wins on 4 pit stops as the first 10 laps run under caution because of rain.
1968 – United States troops reconquer Hue, Vietnam.
1977 – 12th Academy of Country Music Awards: Mickey Gilley and Crystal Gayle win.
1979 – Highest price ever paid for a pig, $42,500, in Stamford, Texas.
1980 – United States ice hockey team clinches gold medal with 4-2 win over Finland at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. It comes after 4-3 “Miracle on Ice” victory against heavily favored Soviet Union.
1987 – Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scores his 36,000th NBA point in a 97-93 win over the Suns in Phoenix.
1996 – Cuba downs 2 US planes.
2002 – XIX Winter Olympic Games close in Salt Lake City, Utah.
2008 – Fidel Castro retires as the President of Cuba due to ill health after nearly fifty years.
2020 – Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein found guilty of rape and a criminal sexual act in landmark case that ignited #MeToo movement.
2011 – Russian leader Vladimir Putin announces the start of a “special military operation” in Ukraine to “demilitarize” the country moments before Russia launches a full-scale pre-dawn invasion by land, air and sea, with bombings in several cities amid international condemnation.