Today in history
Today is Tuesday, Dec. 29, the 364th day of 2020. There are two days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On Dec. 29, 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre took place in South Dakota as an estimated 300 Sioux Indians were killed by U.S. troops sent to disarm them.
On this date:
• In 1812, during the War of
1812, the American frigate USS Constitution engaged and severely damaged the British frigate HMS Java off Brazil.
• In 1845, Texas was admitted as the 28th state.
• In 1916, James Joyce’s first novel, “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,” was first published in book form in New York after being serialized in London.
• In 1939, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara, was released by RKO Radio Pictures.
• 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 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, crashed into the Florida Everglades near Miami International Airport, killing 101 of the
176 people aboard.
• In 1975, a bomb exploded in the main terminal of New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing 11 people (it’s never been determined who was responsible).
• In 1989, dissident and playwright Vaclav Havel (VAHTS’lahv HAH’-vel) assumed the presidency of Czechoslovakia.
• In 1992, the United States and Russia announced agreement on a nuclear arms reduction treaty.
• In 2006, word reached the United States of the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (because of the time difference, it was the morning of Dec.
30 in Iraq when the hanging took place). In a statement, President George W. Bush called Saddam’s execution an important milestone on Iraq’s road to democracy.
• In 2007, the New England Patriots ended their regular season with a remarkable 16-0 record following a 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.)
• In 2017, Puerto Rico authorities said nearly half of the power customers in the U.S. territory still lacked electricity, more than three months after Hurricane Maria.
Today’s Birthdays: Country singer Rose Lee Maphis is 98. Actor Inga Swenson is 88. Actor Barbara Steele is 83. Actor Jon Voight is 82. Country singer Ed Bruce is 81. Retired Hall of Fame Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. is 74. Actor Ted Danson is 73. Actor Michael Cudlitz is 56. Rock singer Dexter Holland (The Offspring) is 55. Actor-comedian Mystro Clark is
54. Actor Jason Gould is 54. News anchor Ashleigh Banfield is 53. Movie director Lilly Wachowski is 53. Actor Jennifer Ehle is 51. Actor Patrick Fischler is 51. Rock singer-musician Glen Phillips is
50. Actor Kevin Weisman is 50. Actor Jude Law is 48. ACountry singer Jessica Andrews is 37. Actor Iain de Caestecker is 33. Actor Jane Levy is 31. Singer-actor-dancer Ross Lynch is 25. Rock musician Danny Wagner is 22.