Today’s highlight in history
On Jan. 23, 1845, Congress decided all national elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
On this date
In 1933, the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the so-called “Lame Duck Amendment,” was ratified as Missouri approved it. In 1950, the Israeli Knesset approved a resolution affirming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In 1962, Jackie Robinson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
In 1964, the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, eliminating the poll tax in federal elections, was ratified as South Dakota became the 38th state to endorse it.
In 1968, North Korea seized the U.S. Navy intelligence ship USS Pueblo, commanded by Lloyd “Pete” Bucher, charging its crew with being on a spying mission; one sailor was killed and 82 were taken prisoner. (Bucher and his crew were released the following December after enduring 11 months of brutal captivity at the hands of the North Koreans.) In 1978, rock musician Terry Kath, a key member of the group Chicago, accidentally shot himself to death following a party in Woodland Hills, Calif.; he was 31. In 1989, surrealist artist Salvador Dali died in Figueres, Spain, at age 84. Ten years ago: President Barack Obama ended the Bush administration’s ban on giving federal money to international groups that performed abortions or provided information on the option. Five years ago: Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered immediate actions to define the depth of trouble inside the nation’s nuclear force, which had been rocked by disclosures about security lapses, poor discipline, weak morale and other problems. One year ago: “The Shape of Water” led the way with 13 Academy Award nominations, including one for best picture.