Today in History

NATO forces in Afghanistan attack a Pakistani checkpost in a friendly fire incident, killing 24 soldiers and wounding 13 others.

Republican candidate George W. Bush is certified the winner of Florida’s electoral votes, giving him enough electoral votes to defeat Democrat Al Gore Jr. for the US presidency, despite losing the popular vote.

Tony Blair becomes the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to address the Republic of Ireland’s parliament.

At London’s Heathrow Airport, almost 6,800 gold bars worth nearly £26 million stolen from Brinks-MAT vault.

Yasuhiro Nakasone is elected the 71st Japanese prime minister.

Oil deposits equaling OPEC reserves are found in Venezuela.

Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme is found guilty of an attempt on President Gerald Ford’s life.

President Eisenhower suffers a minor stroke.

Dale Jarrett, NASCAR driver; won 1999 Winston Cup Series championship.

Velupillai Prabhakaran, founder and leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka.

North Korean and Chinese troops halt a UN offensive.

India becomes a sovereign Democratic republic.

France expels 19 Soviet citizens, charging them with intervention in internal affairs.

The Japanese fleet departs from the Kuril Islands en route to its attack on Pearl Harbor.

Tina Turner, singer, dancer , actress (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”).

Rich Little, comedian, actor; noted for his ability to impersonate famous personalities.

Robert Goulet, singer, actor.

George Segal, sculptor.

Charles M. Shultz, American cartoonist who created “Peanuts” starring Charlie Brown.

Cyril Cusack, Irish actor.

The Bolsheviks offer an armistice between Russian and the Central Powers.

Eric Sevareid, American broadcast journalist for CBS News.

The Duma lends support to Czar in St. Petersburg, who claims he has renounced autocracy.

The Hope diamond is brought to New York.

Norbert Weiner, American mathematician, considered the father of automation.

Willis Haviland Carrier, inventor of the first air conditioning system to control both temperature and humidity.

The first National Thanksgiving is celebrated.

Ellen Gould White, founder of the Seventh Day Adventists.

The Kappa Alpha Society, the second American college Greek-letter fraternity, is founded.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s army begins crossing the Beresina River over two hastily constructed bridges.

George Washington proclaims this a National Thanksgiving Day in honor of the new Constitution. This date was later used to set the date for Thanksgiving.

A congress of colonial leaders criticizes British influence in the colonies and affirms their right to “Life, liberty and property.”

Louis XIV declares war on the Netherlands.