TODAY INHISTORY
Today isThursday, Dec. 17r.
TODAY'SHIGHLIGHT
OnDec. 17, 1903, Wilbur and OrvilleWright of Dayton, Ohio, conducted the first successfulmanned powered-airplane flights near KittyHawk, North Carolina, using their experimental craft, the Wright Flyer.
ONTHISDATE
In1777, Francerecognized Americanindependence. In 1933, intheinauguralNFL championshipfootballgame, theChicagoBearsdefeated theNewYorkGiants, 23-21, at WrigleyField.
In1938, Germanchemists OttoHahnandFritz Strassmanndiscovered nuclearfissionbysplittingthe nucleiofuraniumintolighter elements.
In1975, Lynette“Squeaky” Frommewassentencedin Sacramento, Calif. tolifein prison forherattempton thelifeofPresidentGeraldR. Ford.(ShewasparoledinAug. 2009.)
In1979, ArthurMcDuffie, a Blackinsuranceexecutive, was fatally injuredafter leadingpoliceonachasewith hismotorcycle inMiami.(Four whitepoliceofficersaccused ofbeatingMcDuffiewerelater acquitted, sparking riots.) In1989, theanimated TVseries“TheSimpsons” premieredonFoxwitha Christmas-themedepisode. In1992, PresidentGeorge H.W.Bush,CanadianPrime MinisterBrianMulroneyand MexicanPresident Carlos SalinasdeGortarisigned theNorthAmericanFree TradeAgreementinseparate ceremonies.(AfterPresident DonaldTrumpdemandeda newdeal, thethreecountries signedareplacement agreementin2018.)
In2001, Marines raised theStarsandStripes overthelong-abandoned AmericanEmbassyinKabul, Afghanistan.
In2007, Gov.JonS. Corzine signedameasuremaking NewJerseythefirst stateto abolishthedeathpenaltyin morethan40years.
In2011, NorthKoreanleader KimJongIl diedaftermore thanadecadeof ironrule; he was69, according toofficial records, butsomereports indicatedhewas70.
In2014, theUnitedStates andCubarestoreddiplomatic relations, sweepingawayone ofthelast vestigesoftheCold War.
Tenyearsago: President BarackObamasignedinto lawahuge, holiday-season taxbillextendingcuts forall Americans, salutinganew spiritof politicalcompromise asRepublicansapplauded andliberalsseethed. Fiveyearsago: Defense SecretaryAshCarter acknowledgedthathe sometimesusedapersonal, unsecuredemailaccountto conductofficialbusiness after hetookoffice, apracticehe called“entirelymymistake.” Oneyearago: JoeBiden releasedadoctor’s report saying thatthe77-year-old formervicepresidentwas “healthy, vigorous”and“fit tosuccessfullyexecutethe dutiesofthePresidency.”A federal judgeinWashington sentencedformerTrump campaignofficial Rick Gatesto45days in jail despitewhatshesaidwas “extraordinary”cooperation withspecialcounselRobert Mueller’s Russiaprobeand otherJusticeDepartment investigations; Gateshad pleadedguiltytocharges relatedtopolitical consulting workhedid inUkraine.