Slideshow: Today In History, Jan. 21
Today is Wednesday, Jan. 21.
Today's Highlight in History:
1924: Vladimir Lenin
In 1924, Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin died at age 53.
1937: Count Basie
In 1937, Count Basie and his band recorded "One O'Clock Jump" for Decca Records (on this date in 1942, they re-recorded the song for Okeh Records).
1954: USS Nautilus
In 1954, the first atomic submarine, the USS Nautilus, was launched at Groton (GRAH'-tuhn), Connecticut (however, the Nautilus did not make its first nuclear-powered run until nearly a year later).
1982: Jack Henry Abbott
In 1982, convict-turned-author Jack Henry Abbott was found guilty in New York of first-degree manslaughter in the stabbing death of waiter Richard Adan in 1981. (Abbott was later sentenced to 15 years to life in prison; he committed suicide in 2002.)
1994: Lorena Bobbitt
In 1994, a jury in Manassas, Virginia, found Lorena Bobbitt not guilty by reason of temporary insanity of maliciously wounding her husband John, whom she'd accused of sexually assaulting her.
2005: Megan LeAnn Holden
Ten years ago: The body of Megan LeAnn Holden, a college student whose abduction was captured on a surveillance videotape as she was leaving her clerk's job at a Wal-Mart, was found in western Texas. (Johnny Lee Williams Jr. later pleaded guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to life in prison.)
2010: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
Five years ago: A bitterly divided U.S. Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, vastly increased the power of big business and labor unions to influence government decisions by freeing them to spend their millions directly to sway elections for president and Congress.
2010: John Edwards
Five years ago: Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards finally admitted fathering a daughter during an affair before his second White House bid.
2014: Bob McDonnell
One year ago: Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, once viewed as a rising star in the GOP, and his wife, Maureen, were indicted on federal corruption charges; the couple denied wrongdoing. (A jury in Sept. 2014 convicted the McDonnells of doing favors for former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for more than $165,000 in low-interest loans and gifts.)
Birthday: Billy Ocean
Singer-songwriter Billy Ocean is 65.
Birthday: Cat Power
Rock singer-songwriter Cat Power is 43.
Birthday: Chris Kilmore
Rock DJ Chris Kilmore (Incubus) is 42.
Birthday: Emma Bunton
Singer Emma Bunton (Spice Girls) is 39.
Birthday: Eric Holder
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is 64.
Birthday: Geena Davis
Actress Geena Davis is 59.
Birthday: Hakeem Olajuwon
Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon is 52.
Birthday: Jack Nicklaus
World Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus is 75.
Birthday: Paul Allen
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is 62.
Birthday: Placido Domingo
Opera singer-conductor Placido Domingo is 74.
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