On this day, Jan. 1

1863 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves in rebel states to be “forever free.” 1870 The Old Drury Theater on Fifth Avenue closed its doors after 37 years. 1941 Spurred by war demands for goods, business activity in the Pittsburgh district in the closing months of 1940 equaled that of 1929, according to surveys. Steel firms were operating at 100% capacity; all mills were planning major expansion; and defense contracts placed with Pittsburgh district industries totaled $75 million. 1975 A jury in Washington, D.C., found Nixon administration officials John N. Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman and Robert C. Mardian guilty of charges related to the Watergate cover-up (Mardian’s conviction for conspiracy was later overturned on appeal).

1996 Republicans Larry Dunn and Bob Cranmer took the oath of office as Allegheny County commissioners along with Democrat Mike Dawida, giving Republicans control of the county for the first time in 60 years.

2019 Writing in the Washington Post, newly elected Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said President Donald Trump’s conduct was evidence that Mr. Trump “has not risen to the mantle of the office.”

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

Today’s birthdays: Documentary maker Frederick Wiseman, 90. Actor Frank Langella, 82. Rock singer-musician “Country Joe” McDonald, 78. Writer-comedian Don Novello (“Saturday Night Live”), 77. Actor Rick Hurst (“The Dukes of Hazzard”), 74. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., 66. Former International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde, 64. Actress Dedee Pfeiffer, 56. Actor Morris Chestnut, 51. Model Elin Nordegren, 40. Olympic gold medal ice dancer Meryl Davis, 33. NFL All-Pro Jason Pierre-Paul, 31.

Thought for today: “If you asked me for my New Year resolution, it would be to find out who I am.”