On Jan. 23, 1997, Madeleine Albright was sworn in as the nation’s first female secretary of state.
Category: History
Today in Chicago History: ‘Tomorrow’s transit car is here today’
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 23, according to the Tribune’s archives.
Today in History: Supreme Court issues Roe v. Wade decision
Today is Wednesday, Jan. 22, the 22nd day of 2025. There are 343 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court, in its Roe v. Wade decision, declared a nationwide constitutional right to abortion. (The court would overrule Roe v. Wade in 2022, in the decision Dobbs […]
Today in History: First US case of COVID-19 confirmed
On Jan. 21, 2020, the U.S. reported its first known case of the 2019 novel coronavirus circulating in China, saying a Washington state resident who had returned the previous week from the outbreak’s epicenter was hospitalized near Seattle.
Today in Chicago History: Super Bowl-bound Bears x 2
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 21, according to the Tribune’s archives.
Today in History: American hostages released from Iran after 444 days
On Jan. 20, 1981, Iran released 52 Americans it had held hostage for 444 days, minutes after the presidency had passed from Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan.
Today in Chicago History: ‘Tokyo Rose’ pardoned
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 19, according to the Tribune’s archives.
Today in History: Howard Hughes sets coast-to-coast flight record
On Jan. 19, 1937, Howard Hughes set a new transcontinental air speed record in his H-1 Racer aircraft, flying from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey, in seven hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.
Today in History: Washington Mayor Marion Barry arrested
On Jan. 18, 1990, Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry was arrested after FBI agents caught him smoking crack cocaine in a D.C. hotel room in a videotaped sting operation.
Today in Chicago History: 7 killed when trains crash near Gary
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 18, according to the Tribune’s archives.