Today in 1965, Frank Borman and Jim Lovell splashed down in the Atlantic after their two-week Gemini VII mission.
Today in 1966, a Christmas TV legend was born as Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" aired for the first time on CBS.
Today in 1986, entertainer Wayne Newton won a $19.2-million judgment against NBC News, which had aired reports linking Newton to mob figures. The reports were proven to be false.
Today in 1987, Ivan F. Boesky was sentenced to three years in prison for plotting Wall Street's biggest insider-trading scandal. Ever seen the movie “Wall Street?” Boesky was the inspiration for Michael Douglas’ character Gordon Gekko.
Today in 1995, a powerful fertilizer bomb (similar to that which exploded in Oklahoma City the previous April) was found outside an Internal Revenue Service office in Reno, Nevada. Fortunately, it fizzled before its lit fuse could do any damage. Officials later charged two men, who were convicted.
Today in 1996, FBI agent Earl Edwin Pitts was arrested, accused of selling secrets to the Russians. Pitts was sentenced in June 1997 to 27 years in prison after admitting that he'd conspired and attempted to commit espionage. He remains incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Ashland, in Kentucky.
Today in 1998, South Carolina carried out the nation's 500th execution since capital punishment resumed in 1977.
Today in 2000,researchers announced that information from NASA's Galileo spacecraft indicated that Jupiter’s moon, Ganymede, appeared to have a liquid saltwater ocean beneath a surface of solid ice. Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter, is the solar system's largest moon. The discovery is considered important since water is a key ingredient for life.
Today in 2002, the insurance and finance company Conseco Inc. filed for Chapter 11 protection. It was the third largest bankruptcy in US history.
Today in 2003, Michael Jackson was officially charged with seven counts of molesting a child under 14 and two counts of supplying the child with “an intoxicating agent.” Jackson’s lawyer denounced the allegations and said they were driven by money and revenge. He was completely cleared the following June.
Today in 2011, the last American troops withdrew from Iraq, formally ending the Iraq War. While initial report was that the U.S. retained an embassy in Baghdad with some 17,000 personnel, consulates in Basra, Mosul and Kirkuk (which have been allocated more than 1,000 staff each, and between 4,000 and 5,000 defense contractors), it was later revealed that 17-thousand troops remained as of 2017.
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