more events on December 15
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2005
F-22 Raptor Stealth fighter enters active service with the US Air Force.
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2001
The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after an 11-year, $27 million project to fortify it without eliminating its famed lean.
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1993
The Downing Street Declaration, issued jointly by UK and the Republic of Ireland, affirms the UK would transfer Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland only if a majority of Northern Ireland’s people approved.
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1981
In what is often called the first modern suicide bombing, a suicide car bomb kills 61 people at the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon; Iraq’s ambassador to Lebanon is among the casualties.
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1979
Adam Brody, actor (Gilmore Girls and The O.C. TV series).
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1978
US President Jimmy Carter announces the United States will recognize the People’s Republic of China and will sever all relations with Taiwan.
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1976
The oil tanker MV Argo Merchant causes one of the worst marine oil spills in history when it runs aground near Nantucket, Massachusetts.
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1973
The American Psychiatric Association votes to remove homosexuality from its official list of psychiatric disorders.
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1972
The Commonwealth of Australia orders equal pay for women.
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1967
President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the meat bill in the presence of Upton Sinclair, the author of the controversial book The Jungle.
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1965
The United States drops 12 tons of bombs on an industrial center near Haiphong Harbor, North Vietnam.
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1961
Adolf Eichmann, the former German Gestapo official accused of a major role in the Nazi murder of 6 million Jews, is sentenced by a Jerusalem court to be hanged.
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1946
Vietnam leader Ho Chi Minh sends a note to the new French Premier, Leon Blum, asking for peace talks.
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1944
The battle for Luzon begins.
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1943
U.S. forces invade Japanese-held New Britain Island in New Guinea.
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1942
Dave Clark, singer, songwriter, drummer, producer; lead singer of The Dave Clark Five.
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1938
Washington sends its fourth note to Berlin demanding amnesty for Jews.
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1933
Tim Conway, actor, screenwriter, producer, known for his comedic roles in TV and film that he frequently improvised (The Carol Burnett Show TV series).
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1930
In Spain, a general strike is called in support of the revolution in what would come to be known as the Jaca Uprising.
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1924
The Soviet Union warns the United States against repeated entry of ships into Soviet territorial waters.
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1923
Uziel Gal, German-Israeli firearm designer, best known for designing the Uzi submachine gun.
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1920
China wins a place on the League Council; Austria is admitted.
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1919
Max Yasgur, whose New York farm became the site of the Woodstock music festival in August 1969.
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1916
Maurice Wilkins, New Zealand-English physicist and molecular biologist; received Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1962).
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1911
Nicholas P. Dallis, a psychiatrist turned comic strip writer who created the long-running strips Rex Morgan, M.D., Judge Parker, and Apartment 3-G.
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1907
Oscar Niemeyer, Brazilian architect who designed the Uited Nations Headquarters building.
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1903
The British parliament places a 15-year ban on whale hunting in Norway.
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1892
J. Paul Getty, American oilman and art collector..
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1890
As U.S. Army soldiers attempt to arrest Sitting Bull at his cabin in Standing Rock, South Dakota, shooting breaks out and Lt. Bullhead shoots the great Sioux leader.
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1883
William A. Hinton, developer of the “Hinton Test” for diagnosing syphilis.
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1864
The battle at Nashville begins.
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1862
In New Orleans, Louisiana, Union Major General Benjamin F. Butler turns his command over to Nathaniel Banks. The citizens of New Orleans hold farewell parties for Butler, “The Beast” – but only after he leaves.
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Nathan Bedford Forrest crosses the Tennessee River at Clifton with 2,500 men to raid the communications around Vicksburg, Mississippi.
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1832
Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, designer of the famous tower in Paris.
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1791
The Bill of Rights is ratified in Congress.
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37
Nero Claudius Caesar, emperor of Rome, blamed for the great fire of Rome.