1836Then-state Rep. Abraham Lincoln receives his Illinois law license. Lincoln studied law by borrowing law books from a state lawmaker. In his 24 years of practice before heading to the White House, it’s believed Lincoln handled more than 5,000 cases.1965President Lyndon Johnson signs the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act into law, establishing HUD as a cabinet department. As part of Johnson’s “Great Society” program, its purpose was to develop and enforce housing policies.