Saturday, December 20th

Saturday, December 20th The 355th day of 2008. There are 11 days left in the year. Go to a previous date.

---

Today's Highlights in History
See a larger version of this front page.		On Dec. 20, 1989, the United States launched Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government of General Manuel Noriega. (Go to article.) On Dec. 20, 1881, Branch Rickey, the American baseball executive famous for creating the farm team system and hiring the first black players, was born. Following his death on Dec. 9, 1965, his obituary appeared in The Times. (Go to obit. | Other Birthdays)
		On December 20, 1902, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about cartoonist Thomas Nast, who had recently died. (See the cartoon and read an explanation.)

On this date in:
1790	The first successful cotton mill in the United States began operating at Pawtucket, R.I.
1803	The Louisiana Purchase was completed as the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States during ceremonies in New Orleans.
1864	Confederate forces evacuated Savannah, Ga., as Union Gen. William T. Sherman continued his "March to the Sea."
1879	Thomas Edison privately demonstrated his incandescent light at Menlo Park, N.J.
1946	The Frank Capra film "It's A Wonderful Life" had a preview showing for charity at New York City's Globe Theatre, a day before its official premiere.
1963	The Berlin Wall was opened for the first time to West Berliners, who were allowed one-day visits to relatives in the Eastern sector for the holidays.
1968	Author John Steinbeck died at age 66.
1976	Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley died at age 74.
1860	South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.
1994	Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk died at age 85.
1996	Astronomer Carl Sagan died at age 62.
1999	The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that homosexual couples are entitled to the same benefits and protections as wedded couples.
2002	Trent Lott resigned as Senate Republican leader two weeks after igniting a political firestorm with racially charged remarks.
2005	New York City transit workers began a three-day strike.

---

Current Birthdays

David Cook turns 26 years old today.

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello Singer David Cook ("American Idol") turns 26 years old today.

91 Audrey Totter Actress 81 Charlie Callas Comedian, actor 77 Ike Skelton House Armed Services Committee chairman, D-Mo. 76 John Hillerman Actor ("Magnum P.I.") 75 Jean Carnahan Former U.S. senator, D-Mo. 69 Kathryn Joosten Actress 64 Bobby Colomby Rock musician (Blood, Sweat and Tears) 63 Peter Criss Rock musician (Kiss) 62 Uri Geller Illusionist 62 Sonny Perdue Governor of Georgia 62 Dick Wolf TV producer ("Law and Order" shows) 60 Alan Parsons Rock musician 56 Jenny Agutter Actress 54 Michael Badalucco Actor 52 Blanche Baker Actress 51 Billy Bragg Rock singer 51 Mike Watt Rock musician 44 Kris Tyler Country singer 42 Chris Robinson Rock singer (The Black Crowes) 38 Nicole deBoer Actress 27 Roy Williams Football player 26 David Wright Baseball player 18 JoJo Singer Historic Birthdays Branch Rickey 12/20/1881 - 12/9/1965 American baseball executive (Go to obit.) 43 Dan Leno 12/20/1860 - 10/31/1904 English entertainer 69 Harvey Firestone 12/20/1868 - 2/7/1938 American industrialist 87 Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman 12/20/1886 - 12/5/1974 American tennis champion 83 Sir Robert Menzies 12/20/1894 - 5/16/1978 Australian prime minister (1939-41, 1949-66) 91 Irene Dunne 12/20/1898 - 9/4/1990 American actress 65 Robert Van de Graaff 12/20/1901 - 1/16/1967 American physicist and inventor 89 Max Lerner 12/20/1902 - 6/5/1992 American educator and columnist 86 Sidney Hook 12/20/1902 - 7/12/1989 American social philosopher 69 Jean Marchand 12/20/1918 - 8/28/1988 Canadian politician