1732 – Benjamin Franklin under the name Richard Saunders begins publication of “Poor Richard’s Almanack”
1843 – “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens is published, 6,000 copies sold.
1871 – Albert L Jones of New York City patents corrugated paper.
1918 – Robert Ripley began his “Believe It or Not” column (NY Globe)
1927 – National Football League Championship: New York Giants (11-1-1) win first title.
1933 – Electric Home & Farm Authority Inc, authorized.
1941 – US Office of Censorship created to control info pertaining to WW II.
1942 – Robert Stroud “Birdman of Alcatraz” is transferred to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.
1948 – 8th largest snowfall in NYC history (15.3″)
1955 – Carl Perkins records “Blue Suede Shoes”
1958 – 1st radio broadcast from space, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower Christmas message “to all mankind, America’s wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere”
1971 – CBS airs “Homecoming A Christmas Story,” (introducing the Waltons)
1972 – Apollo 17 (last of Apollo Moon landing series) returns to Earth.
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.
1985 – Mary Lund is 1st woman to receive a Jarvik VII artificial heart at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis.
1994 – Rolls-Royce announces its future cars will feature V12 engine which will be produced by BMW.
1998 – US House of Representatives votes to impeach President Bill Clinton, forwarding the articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial.
2012 – UBS bank is fined $1.5 billion for its role in manipulating the Libor rate.
2016 – US electoral votes 304 to 227 to nominate Donald Trump for President over the objections of seven faithless electors.