1924Vladimir Lenin, the Russian revolutionary who founded the Soviet Union, the world's first communist state, dies in Moscow.

1950 In New York, a case sets a flash point in American politics during the early years of the Cold War. Alger Hiss, a former State Department official accused of being part of a communist spy ring, is found guilty of lying to a grand jury . Hiss, who always maintained his innocence, serves less than 4 years in prison.

1977President Jimmy Carter pardons almost all Vietnam War draft evaders keeping this promise he made on the campaign trial. "And I'm not gonna say whether those young people were guilty or not guilty. I'm just gonna say what you did, whether it was right or wrong, you're forgiven for it, come back home."1976The Supersonic Concorde jet roars into service for the first time, beginning a run that lasts for nearly 3 decades.

And 1942 Count Basie and his orchestra , one of the most popular big bands in the U.S., record their hit "One O'clock Jump".

Today in History, January 21st, Tim Maguire, the Associated Press.