January 20, 1885 - L. A. Thompson receives a patent for the roller coaster.

January 20, 1887 - The Senate approves leasing Pearl Harbor in order to construct a naval base.

January 20, 1892 - The world's first official basketball game is played by students of the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts.

January 20, 1896 - George Burns, comedian and actor, is born.

January 20, 1908 - Women are forbidden to smoke in public by the Sullivan Ordinance.

January 20, 1930 - Charles Lindbergh sets a new record for flying across the country as he lands in New York after a flight of 14.75 hours.

January 20, 1937 - In keeping with the 20th Amendment, the first presidential inauguration takes place on this date as Franklin Roosevelt is inaugurated. Henceforth, all presidents will be inaugurated on this day.

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January 20, 1958 - Elvis Presley receives his orders from the draft board to report for duty.

January 20, 1961 - John Kennedy becomes the country's youngest ever, and first Catholic, president.

January 20, 1977 - After his inauguration, President Jimmy Carter eschews the traditional limousine ride and walks back to the White House.

January 20, 1981 - The 52 American captives held in Tehran, Iran are released shortly after the inauguration of Ronald Reagan.

January 20, 1986 - The federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is held for the first time.

"There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction." - John F. Kennedy