Today in History, January 17: TV icon Betty White is born - Tennessean

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Friday, January 17, 2020

Associated Press

Published 6:00 AM EST Jan 17, 2020

Today is Friday, Jan. 17. On this date:

1806

Thomas Jefferson's daughter, Martha, gave birth to James Madison Randolph, the first child born in the White House.

1916

The Professional Golfers' Association of America had its beginnings as department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker hosted a luncheon of pro and amateur golfers in New York City. (The PGA of America was formally established on April 10, 1916.)

1917

Denmark ceded the Virgin Islands to the United States for $25 million.

1945

Soviet and Polish forces liberated Warsaw during World War II; Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, credited with saving tens of thousands of Jews, disappeared in Hungary while in Soviet custody.

1955

The submarine USS Nautilus made its first nuclear-powered test run from its berth in Groton, Connecticut.

1977

Convicted murderer Gary Gilmore, 36, was shot by a firing squad at Utah State Prison in the first U.S. execution in a decade.

1984

The U.S. Supreme Court, in Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studios, Inc., ruled 5-4 that the use of home video cassette recorders to tape television programs for private viewing did not violate federal copyright laws.

1997

A court in Ireland granted the first divorce in the Roman Catholic country's history.

Today's birthday

Actress Betty White is 98.

Actor James Earl Jones is 89.

Talk show host Maury Povich is 81.

Singer Paul Young is 64.

Actor-comedian Steve Harvey is 63.

Actor-comedian Jim Carrey is 58.

Former first lady Michelle Obama is 56.

Rapper Kid Rock is 49.

DJ-singer Calvin Harris is 36. 

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