TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY IS FRIDAY, JAN. 19, the 19th day of 2018. There are 346 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT IN HISTORY: In 1953, CBS-TV aired the widely watched episode of “I Love Lucy” in which Lucy Ricardo, played by Lucille Ball, gave birth to Little Ricky. (Ball gave birth the same day to her son, Desi Arnaz Jr.)

In 1807, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was born in Westmoreland County, Va.

In 1861, Georgia became the fifth state to secede from the Union.

In 1915, Germany carried out its first air raid on Britain during World War I as a pair of Zeppelins dropped bombs onto Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn.

In 1937, millionaire Howard Hughes set a transcontinental air record by flying his monoplane from Los Angeles to Newark, N.J., in 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

In 1942, during World War II, a German submarine sank the Canadian liner RMS Lady Hawkins off Cape Hatteras, N.C., killing 251 people; 71 survived.

In 1955, a presidential news conference

was filmed for television and newsreels for the first time, with the permission of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In 1966, Indira Gandhi was chosen prime minister of India by the National Congress party. In 1977, President Gerald R. Ford pardoned “Tokyo Rose,” the nickname given Iva Toguri D’Aquino, an American convicted of treason for making radio broadcasts aimed at demoralizing Allied troops during World War II.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Former U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar is 98. Actress Tippi Hedren is 88. Former PBS newsman Robert MacNeil is 87. Actress Shelley Fabares is 74. Country singer Dolly Parton is 72. Former ABC newswoman Ann Compton and TV chef Paula Deen are 71. Rock singer Martha Davis is 67. Actress Katey Sagal is 64. Comedian Paul Rodriguez and conductor Sir Simon Rattle are 63. Basketball coach Jeff Van Gundy is 56. International Tennis Hall-of-Famer Stefan Edberg is 52. Actor Shawn Wayans is 47. Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson is 26.