On This Day, Jan. 10: U.S. establishes 1st diplomatic ties to Vatican in 116 years

UPI Staff
·3 min read
Pope John Paul II speaks at a press conference with President Ronald Reagan in Anchorage, Alaska, on May 2, 1984. On January 10, 1984, the United States established full diplomatic relations with the Vatican for the first time in 116 years. UPI File Photo
Pope John Paul II speaks at a press conference with President Ronald Reagan in Anchorage, Alaska, on May 2, 1984. On January 10, 1984, the United States established full diplomatic relations with the Vatican for the first time in 116 years. UPI File Photo
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Jan. 10 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1789, the first nationwide U.S. presidential election was conducted. Electors chosen by the voters unanimously picked George Washington as president and John Adams as vice president.

In 1861, Florida seceded from the United States.

In 1878, a constitutional amendment that would give women the right to vote was introduced into the U.S. Senate. It wasn't until 42 years later that the amendment was enacted.

More than 25,000 women take to New York City's Fifth Avenue on October 23, 1915, advocating for women’s voting rights. File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI
More than 25,000 women take to New York City's Fifth Avenue on October 23, 1915, advocating for women’s voting rights. File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI
On January 10, 2017, a jury sentenced self-avowed White supremacist Dylann Roof to death for shooting to death nine people at a Black church in Charleston, S.C. File Photo courtesy of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department
On January 10, 2017, a jury sentenced self-avowed White supremacist Dylann Roof to death for shooting to death nine people at a Black church in Charleston, S.C. File Photo courtesy of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department

In 1901, oil was discovered at the Spindletop claim near Beaumont, Texas, launching the Southwest oil boom.

In 1920, the League of Nations came into being as the Treaty of Versailles went into effect.

British Prime Minister Clement Attlee addresses the first session of the United Nations General Assembly on January 10, 1946, at Central Hall in London. File Photo courtesy United Nations
British Prime Minister Clement Attlee addresses the first session of the United Nations General Assembly on January 10, 1946, at Central Hall in London. File Photo courtesy United Nations

In 1946, the first meeting of the U.N. General Assembly convened in London.

In 1957, Six dynamite blasts heavily damaged four black churches in Montgomery, Ala., and the homes of two ministers. No one was injured.

On January 10, 1920, the League of Nations came into being as the Treaty of Versailles went into effect. File Photo courtesy United Nations
On January 10, 1920, the League of Nations came into being as the Treaty of Versailles went into effect. File Photo courtesy United Nations

In 1984, the United States established full diplomatic relations with the Vatican for the first time in 116 years.

In 2003, North Korea announced it was withdrawing from the 1979 nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

On January 10, 2003, North Korea announced it was withdrawing from the 1979 nuclear non-proliferation treaty. File Photo courtesy KCNA/EPA
On January 10, 2003, North Korea announced it was withdrawing from the 1979 nuclear non-proliferation treaty. File Photo courtesy KCNA/EPA

In 2008, Edmund Hillary, who gained international fame as a member of the first climbing party to scale Mount Everest, died in Auckland, New Zealand, at age 88.

Edmund Hillary (L) and Tenzing Norgay are pictured May 29, 1953, after becoming the first humans to summit the peak of Mount Everest in Nepal. File Photo by Jamling Tenzing Norgay/Wikimedia
Edmund Hillary (L) and Tenzing Norgay are pictured May 29, 1953, after becoming the first humans to summit the peak of Mount Everest in Nepal. File Photo by Jamling Tenzing Norgay/Wikimedia
A statue of former President George Washington is covered in snow outside of Federal Hall in New York City on January 4. On January 10, 1789, the first nationwide U.S. presidential election was conducted. Electors chosen by the voters unanimously picked Washington as president and John Adams as vice president. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
A statue of former President George Washington is covered in snow outside of Federal Hall in New York City on January 4. On January 10, 1789, the first nationwide U.S. presidential election was conducted. Electors chosen by the voters unanimously picked Washington as president and John Adams as vice president. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In 2013, President Barack Obama signed legislation designating Pinnacles National Monument in California a national park. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif.

In 2017, a federal jury sentenced self-avowed White supremacist Dylann Roof to death for shooting to death nine people at a historic Black church in Charleston, S.C.

On January 10, 1901, oil was discovered at the Spindletop claim near Beaumont, Texas, launching the Southwest oil boom. File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI
On January 10, 1901, oil was discovered at the Spindletop claim near Beaumont, Texas, launching the Southwest oil boom. File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI

In 2022, the U.S. Mint announced it began shipping a new quarter featuring poet Maya Angelou, the first U.S. coin to feature a Black woman.

In 2023, Abbott Elementary, House of the Dragon, The Banshees of Inisherin and The Fabelmans were the big winners at the Golden Globe Awards.

File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI