January 8, 1790 - The first State of the Union address is given by President George Washington in New York.

January 8, 1798 - The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified by Congress. The amendment prohibits lawsuits against a state by residents of other states or foreign countries.

January 8, 1867 - African-American men are granted the right to vote in the District of Columbia. To do so, Congress had to override President Andrew Johnson's veto of the bill.

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January 8, 1889 - Dr. Herman Hollerith receives a patent for an electric tabulating machine. His company later became IBM.

January 8, 1918 - President Woodrow Wilson speaks to Congress, describing his "14 Points" for achieving peace in Europe and the country's aims in World War I.

January 8, 1935 - Elvis Presley, singer and actor, is born.

January 8, 1962 - Jack Nicklaus makes his first professional appearance in a golf tournament. He placed 50th.

"Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't.  You cannot shirk this and be a man." - Thomas Tusser