Just days before UN deadline, Congress authorizes President George H. Bush to use force to expel Iraq form Kuwait. “The action taken by the United States Congress today is a very important step in hopefully getting Saddam Hussein to realize what he is up against.” Days later an American-led coalition launches operation Desert Storm which drives Saddam Hussein’s troops from Kuwait.

1945. In the final month of World War II, Soviet forces begin a huge offensive against Nazi Germany in Eastern Europe.

1932. Hattie Caraway of Arkansas becomes the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Caraway wins this special election to fill the last few months for her late husband’s term.

1976. In Britain,mystery writer Agatha Christie whose works include “Murder on the Oriental Express”, dies at age 85.

And 1971.

"Boy the way Glen Miler played,songs that made the hit parade,guys like us we had made,those were the days,and you know where you were then,girls were girls and men were men,mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again."“All in the family” premieres on CBS. The sitcom breaks new ground in depicting serious topics on TV, becoming wildly popular.

Today in history, January 12th. Sandy Kozel. The Associated Press.