MIKE GRACIA

Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. (May 27, 1911 – January 13, 1978)

Japanese Chief Government Spokesman Koichi Kato issues an
official apology concerning World War ll sex slaves.

On this day in 1992, Japan apologized for forcing tens of thousands of Korean
women to serve as sex slaves or “comfort girls”, as they were called, for the 
Japanese soldiers during World War II. He said, "We cannot deny that the
former Japanese army played a role" in abducting and detaining the "comfort
girls," and "We would like to express our apologies and contrition".

L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia, the nation’s first elected black
governor, took the oath of office in Richmond on this day in 
1990.

Lawrence Douglas Wilder will turn 87 on January 17.

Emile Zola’s "J’accuse" was published in Paris on this day in 1898.

Stephen Collins Foster  (July 4, 1826 – January 13, 1864)

Foster is known as "the father of American music", was an American
songwriter known primarily for his parlor and minstrel music. Foster
wrote over 200 songs; among his best-known are "Oh! Susanna",
"Camptown Races", "My Old Kentucky Home", and "Beautiful
Dreamer".