January 17, 1927

1927Thomas Anthony Dooley III, American physician and humanitarian (died 1961)^[†]

Thomas Anthony Dooley III was an American physician who worked in Southeast Asia at the outset of American involvement in the Vietnam War. While serving as a physician in the United States Navy and afterwards, he became known for his humanitarian and anti-communist political activities up until his early death from cancer. After his death, the public learned that he had been recruited as an intelligence operative by the Central Intelligence Agency, and numerous descriptions of atrocities by the Viet Minh in his book Deliver Us From Evil had been fabricated.

1927Eartha Kitt, American actress and singer (died 2008)^[†]

Eartha Mae Kitt was an American singer and actress. She was known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby".

1927Harlan Mathews, American lawyer and politician (died 2014)^[†]

Harlan Mathews was an American politician who was an appointed interim Democratic United States Senator from Tennessee from 1993 to 1994. He previously served in the executive and legislative branches of state government in Tennessee for more than 40 years beginning in 1950.

1927E. W. Swackhamer, American director and producer (died 1994)^[†]

Egbert Warnderink "E. W." Swackhamer Jr. was an American television and film director.

1927Juliette Gordon Low, American founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA (born 1860)^[†]

Juliette Gordon Low was the American founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. Inspired by the work of Robert Baden-Powell, founder of Scout Movement, she joined the Girl Guide movement in England, forming her own group of Girl Guides there in 1911.