1732 – Benjamin Franklin, under the name of Richard Saunders , begins publication of “Poor Richard’s Almanac”
1776 – Thomas Paine, published his 1st “American Crisis” essay, in which he wrote, These are the times that try men’s souls.”
1795 – 1st state appropriation of money for road building, Kentucky.
1823 – Georgia passes 1st US state birth registration law in US.
1828 – South Carolina declares right of states to nullify federal laws.
1843 – “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens is published, 6,000 copies sold.
1887 – Jake Kilrain & Jem Smith fight 106 rounds bare knuckle draw.
1907 – 239 workers died in a coal mine explosion in Jacobs Creek, Pennsylvania.
1924 – The last Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost is sold in London, England.
1941 – US Office of Censorship created to control info pertaining to WWII.
1942 – Robert Stroud “Birdman of Alcatraz” is transferred to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.
1955 – Carl Perkins records “Blue Suede Shoes”
1971 – CBS airs “Homecoming A Christmas Story,” (introducing the Waltons)
1979 – “Kramer vs Kramer” directed by Robert Benton and starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep is released (Best Picture 1980)
1984 – Wayne Gretzky, 23, is 18th youngest NHL-er to score 1,000 points.
1986 – OPEC reaches an accord that would cut production by 7 percent for the first six months of 1987 and would raise prices immediately toward a target world oil price of $18 per barrel.
1996 – “Once Upon a Mattress” opens at Broadhurst NYC for 187 performances.
1998 – Lewinsky scandal: The United States House of Representatives forwards articles I and III of impeachment against President Bill Clinton to the Senate.
2001 – “The Fellowship of the Ring”, 1st Lord of the Rings film is released. Makes US$47 million US opening weekend, $871 million total worldwide.
2014 – The Guardian newspaper calls 2014 ‘The year the people stood up’
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