Today in History

Today is Friday, Dec. 19, the 353rd day of 2014 There are 12 days left in the year Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec. 19, 1974, Nelson A Rockefeller was sworn in as the 41st vice president of the United States in the U S Senate chamber by Chief Justice Warren Burger with President Gerald R Ford looking on (in a first for the Senate, the proceeding was televised live) On this date: In 1950, Gen Dwight D Eisenhower was named commander of the military forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

In 1961, former U S Ambassador Joseph P Kennedy Sr , 73, suffered a debilitating stroke while in Palm Beach, Florida

In 1972, Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific, winding up the Apollo program of manned lunar landings

In 1984, a coal fire at the Wilberg Mine near Orangeville, Utah, killed 27 people Britain and China signed an accord returning Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997

In 1986, Lawrence E Walsh was appointed independent counsel to investigate the Iran-Contra affair

In 1998, President Bill Clinton was impeached by the Republican-controlled House for perjury and obstruction of justice (he was subsequently acquitted by the Senate)

Today’s Birthdays: Country singer Little Jimmy Dickens is 94 Actress Cicely Tyson is 90 Former game show contestant Herb Stempel is 88 Rhythm-and-blues singer-musician Maurice White (Earth, Wind and Fire) is 73 Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is 73 Actress Elaine Joyce is 71 Actor Tim Reid is 70 Paleontologist Richard E Leakey is 70 Musician John McEuen is 69 Singer Janie Fricke is 67 Jazz musician Lenny White is 65 Actor Mike Lookinland is 54 Actress Jennifer Beals is 51 Actor Scott Cohen is 50 Actor Robert MacNaughton is 48 Magician Criss Angel is 47