1778-Voltaire returns to Paris to great acclaim after an absence of 28 years

1855-U.S. citizenship laws amended; all children of US parents born abroad granted US citizenship

1904-Japan and Russia declare war

1918-Leon Trotsky declares that Russia is leaving World War I

1943-"Manifesto of Algerian People" calls for equality & self-determination

1955-The U.S. Navy evacuate 1000s from Tachen Islands in the Pacific

1974-Iran / Iraqi border fight breaks out

1977-Bomb explosion in Moscow metro

1990-South African President F. W. de Klerk announces Nelson Mandela will be freed on February 11th

1993-"Michael Jackson Talks To Oprah Winfrey" airs on ABC & drew an astounding 39.3 rating/56 share, 90 million people