DAY IN HISTORY

Monday, January 4, 2021

Today is the fourth day of 2021 and the 15th day of winter.

TODAY’S HISTORY:

In 1896, Utah was admitted as the 45th U.S. state.

In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson presented the “Great Society” plan in his State of the Union address.

In 1995, the 104th U.S. Congress convened with Republican majorities in both the House and Senate for the first time since the Eisenhower presidency.

In 2004, NASA’S Spirit rover landed on the surface of Mars.

In 2010, the 2,717-foot Burj Khalifa opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as the world’s tallest building.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS:

Louis Braille (1809-1852), Braille alphabet inventor; Don Shula (1930-2020), football coach; Floyd Patterson (1935-2006), boxer; Dyan Cannon (1937- ), actress; Doris Kearns Goodwin (1943- ), historian; Patty Loveless (1957- ), singer-songwriter; Michael Stipe (1960- ), singer-songwriter; Dave Foley (1963- ), actor/comedian; Julia Ormond (1965- ), actress; Kris Bryant (1992- ), baseball player; Derrick Henry (1994- ), football player. TODAY’S FACT: Medicare, one of the largest reforms passed as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society initiatives, insured 61 million Americans in 2019. TODAY’S SPORTS:

In 2003, the Atlanta Falcons upset the Green Bay Packers, 27-7, in the wild-card round of the playoffs. It

was the first playoff loss at Lambeau Field in Packers history.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Journalism still, in a democracy, is the essential force to get the public educated and mobilized to take action on behalf of our ancient ideals.” — Doris Kearns Goodwin

TODAY’S NUMBER:

$1.5 billion — estimated total cost (in U.S. dollars) of the Burj Khalifa project.

TODAY’S MOON:

Between full moon (Dec. 29) and last quarter moon (Jan. 6).