• 1915

  The electric neon sign was patented in the United States by George Claude of Paris, France.

• 1953

  Lucy Ricardo gave birth to baby Ricky on I Love Lucy. More people tuned in to watch the show than the inauguration of President Eisenhower.

• 1955

  President Eisenhower okayed the first filming of a news conference for television.

• 1966

  Indira Gandhi was elected prime minister of India.

• 1981

  The United States and Iran signed an agreement paving the way for the release of 52 Americans held hostage for more than 14 months.

• 1997

  Yasser Arafat returned to Hebron for the first time in 30 years, as Israel hands over control of the West Bank city to Palestinians.

• 2001

  President Clinton admitted he made false statements under oath about Monica Lewinsky.