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Today's Highlight in History:
- Two hundred years ago, on Dec. 29, 1808, the 17th president of the United States, Andrew Johnson, was born in Raleigh, N.C.
On this date:
- In 1170, Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by knights loyal to King Henry II.
- In 1845, Texas was admitted as the 28th state.
- In 1851, the first American Young Men's Christian Association was organized, in Boston.
- In 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre took place in South Dakota as an estimated 300 Sioux Indians were killed by US troops sent to disarm them.
- In 1916, Grigory Rasputin, the so-called "Mad Monk" who'd wielded great influence with Czar Nicholas II, was murdered by a group of Russian noblemen in St. Petersburg.
- In 1934, Japan formally denounced the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922.
- In 1940, during World War II, Germany dropped incendiary bombs on London, setting off what came to be known as "The Second Great Fire of London."
- In 1957, singers Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme were married in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- In 1975, a bomb exploded in the main terminal of New York's LaGuardia Airport, killing 11 people.
- In 1978, during the Gator Bowl, Ohio State University coach Woody Hayes punched Clemson player Charlie Bauman, who'd intercepted an Ohio pass. (Hayes was fired by Ohio State the next day.)
Ten years ago:
- Two top Khmer Rouge leaders apologized for the deaths of as many as two million people during their regime in the 1970s, and asked Cambodians to forget the past.
Five years ago:
- Monsignor Michael Courtney, Pope John Paul II's ambassador in Burundi, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen.
- Actor Earl Hindman, who'd played the mostly unseen neighbor Wilson on "Home Improvement," died in Stamford, Conn., at age 61.
One year ago:
- Australian David Hicks, the first person convicted at an American war crimes trial since World War II, was freed from prison in Adelaide after completing a US-imposed sentence.
- The New England Patriots ended their regular season with a remarkable 16-0 record following a thrilling 38-35 comeback victory over the New York Giants. (New England became the first NFL team since the 1972 Dolphins to win every game on the schedule.)
Today's Birthdays:
- Actor Clarence Swensen (''The Wizard of Oz'') is 91.
- Actress Inga Swenson is 76.
- ABC newscaster Tom Jarriel is 74.
- Actress Mary Tyler Moore is 71.
- Actor Jon Voight is 70.
- Country singer Ed Bruce is 69.
- Rock musician Ray Thomas is 67.
- Singer Marianne Faithfull is 62.
- Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. is 62.
- Actor Ted Danson is 61.
- Actor Jon Polito is 58.
- Singer-actress Yvonne Elliman is 57.
- Actress Patricia Clarkson is 49.
- Comedian Paula Poundstone is 49.
- Rock singer-musician Jim Reid (The Jesus and Mary Chain) is 47.
- Rock singer Dexter Holland (The Offspring) is 43.
- Actor-comedian Mystro Clark is 42.
- Actor Jason Gould is 42.
- Movie director Andy Wachowski is 41.
- Actress Jennifer Ehle is 39.
- Rock singer-musician Glen Phillips is 38.
- Actor Kevin Weisman is 38.
- Actor Jude Law is 36.
- Actor Mekhi Phifer is 34.
- Actor Shawn Hatosy is 33.
- Actor Diego Luna is 29.
- Country singer Jessica Andrews is 25.
Thought for Today:
'
'Ours is the age of substitutes: Instead of language we have jargon; instead of principles, slogans; and instead of genuine ideas, bright suggestions.''
Eric Bentley, British-born American author and educator.
"Let's all be careful out there!"
