Today in History: December 16, 2007

Politics, War!, Terrorism, Civil Rights, Culture, Disasters, Assassinations, Birthdays

On December 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party took place.


WAR!


In 1944, The Battle of the Bulge during World War II began in Belgium.

In 1864, in the afternoon, Union troops led by General George H. Thomas devastated Confederate forces at Nashville, Tennessee. The battle had begun the day before when Thomas initiated an attack after waiting some two weeks for troop reinforcements and favorable weather.

In 1998, President Bill Clinton ordered a sustained series of airstrikes against Iraq by American and British forces in response to Saddam Hussein's continued defiance of UN weapons inspectors.


TERRORISM


In 1950, President Truman proclaimed a national state of emergency in order to fight "Communist imperialism."

In 2004, Britain's highest court ruled that it could not detain foreign suspects indefinitely without trial.


ASSASSINATIONS


In 1916, Grigori Rasputin assassinated by a group of noble Russian conspirators.

In 1985, reputed organized-crime chief Paul Castellano was shot to death outside a New York City restaurant.


DISASTERS


In 1920, one of the deadliest earthquakes in history hit the Gansu province in China. The 8.6 quake killed 200,000 people.

In 1960, a United Air Lines DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation collided over New York City, killing 134 people.


CIVIL RIGHTS


In 1991, the U.N. General Assembly rescinded its 1975 resolution equating Zionism with racism by a 111-25 vote.

In 2000, Colin Powell was selected to become the first African-American secretary of state.


CULTURE


In 1770, composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany.

In 1899, playwright Noel Coward was born in London.


BIRTHDAYS


71 Morris Dees,Civil rights attorney; 70 Joyce Bulifant, Actress; 69 Liv Ullmann, Actress; 66 Lesley Stahl, Broadcast journalist ("60 Minutes"); 65 Don Carcieri, Governor of Rhode Island; 64 Steven Bochco, TV producer ("NYPD Blue," "Hill Street Blues"); 63 Jim Gibbons, Governor of Nevada; 61 Benny Andersson, Singer (ABBA); 60 Ben Cross, Actor; 58 Billy Gibbons, Rock musician (ZZ Top); 56 Bill Bateman, Rock musician (The Blasters); 48 Alison LaPlaca, Actress; 46 Sam Robards, Actor; 46 Jon Tenney, Actor("The Closer"); 44 Benjamin Bratt, Actor; 44 Jeff Carson, Country singer, songwriter; 36 Michael McCary, R&B singer (Boyz II Men); 25 Chris Scruggs,
Country musician; 20 Hallee Hirsh, Actress ("JAG")

compiled by Mondoreb
[image: historywiz]
Sources: Info Please: December 16
memory: December 16
NY Times: December 16




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