1796 – 1st US newspaper to appear on Sunday (Baltimore, Monitor)
1898 – Automobile speed record set (39 mph)
1917 – The 18th Amendment to the US Constitution, authorizing prohibition of alcohol, is approved by the US Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
1920 – 1st US postage stamps printed without the words United States or US.
1936 – Su-Lin, 1st giant panda to come to US from China, arrives in San Francisco.
1946 – TV’s 1st network dramatic serial “Faraway Hill” ends 2 month run in US.
1949 – National Football League Championship, Philadelphia Eagles beat Los Angeles Rams, 14-0; played in driving rain that caused field to become a mud pit.
1956 – “To Tell the Truth” debuts on TV.
1958 – Project SCORE, world’s 1st communications satellite launched from Cape Canaveral.
1961 – For 2nd consecutive year, AP named Wilma Rudolph female athlete of year.
1963 – “The Pink Panther” film premieres directed by Blake Edwards and starring Peter Sellers and David Niven with theme by Henry Mancini.
1971 – 1st Candlelight Processional at the EPCOT Center, Disney World.
1984 – “A Christmas Carol” directed by Clive Donner starring George C. Scott premieres in the US.
1989 – “I Love Lucy” Christmas episode, shown for 1st time in over 30 years.
1991 – General Motors announces closing of 21 plants.
1996 – US TV industry execs agree to adopt a rating system.
2002 – Governor of California, Gray Davis announces the state faces a record budget deficit of $35 billion, roughly double the figure reported during his re-election campaign one month earlier.
2002 – Fashion designer Calvin Klein announces he is selling his company to shirt-maker Phillips-Van Heusen for $430 million.
2011 – The last US troops withdraw from Iraq, formally ending the Iraq War.
2019 – US House of Representatives votes to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power (230-197) and obstruction of Congress (229-198)