December 24, 2011 – Smriti "Simmi" D. Isaac

Updated December 23, 2011, 1:28 pm

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On Dec. 24, 1992, President Bush pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others in the Iran-Contra scandal.

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On Dec. 24, 1907, I. F. Stone, the American journalist famous for his witty commentary in his newsletter, “I.F. Stone’s Weekly”, was born. Following his death on June 18, 1989, his obituary appeared in The Times.

Go to obituary » | Other birthdays »

On This Date

By The Associated Press

1814 The War of 1812 officially ended as the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium.

1851 Fire devastated the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., destroying about 35,000 volumes.

1865 The Ku Klux Klan was founded as a private social club by several Confederate Army veterans in Pulaski, Tenn.

1871 Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Aida” had its world premiere in Cairo, Egypt, to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal.

1906 Canadian physicist Reginald A. Fessenden became the first person to broadcast a music program over radio, from Brant Rock, Mass.

1920 Enrico Caruso gave his last public performance, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower supreme commander of Allied forces during World War II.

1992 President George H.W. Bush pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others in the Iran-Contra scandal.

2002 Laci Peterson was reported missing from her Modesto, Calif., home, by her husband, Scott, who was later convicted of murdering her and their unborn son.

2009 The Senate passed health care legislation, 60-39, in the chamber’s first Christmas Eve vote since 1895.

2009 A woman jumped barriers in St. Peter’s Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI as he was walking down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass; the pope was unhurt.

Current Birthdays

By The Associated Press

TV personality Ryan Seacrest (“American Idol”) turns 37 years old today.

AP Photo/Dan Steinberg

Singer Ricky Martin turns 40 years old today.

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

1927 Mary Higgins Clark, Mystery writer, turns 84

1940 Anthony Fauci, Public health official, turns 71

1946 Jeff Sessions, U.S. senator, R-Ala., turns 65

1966 Diedrich Bader, Actor (“The Drew Carey Show”), turns 45

1973 Stephenie Meyer, Author (“Twilight” series), turns 38

Historic Birthdays

I. F. Stone 12/24/1907 – 6/18/1989 American journalist. Go to obituary »

60 William Paterson 12/24/1745 – 9/9/1806
Irish-born American governor of New Jersey

58 Kit Carson 12/24/1809 – 5/23/1868
American frontiersman and folk hero

65 Matthew Arnold 12/24/1822 – 4/15/1888
English poet and social critic

73 Michael Curtiz 12/24/1886 – 4/10/1962
Hungarian-born American film director

22 Georges-Marie Guynemer 12/24/1894 – 9/11/1917
French World War I combat pilot

60 Baby Dodds 12/24/1898 – 2/14/1959
American jazz musician

70 Howard Hughes 12/24/1905 – 4/5/1976
American manufacturer and aviator

67 Ava Gardner 12/24/1922 – 1/25/1990
American actress

1814	The War of 1812 officially ended as the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium.
1851	Fire devastated the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., destroying about 35,000 volumes.
1865	The Ku Klux Klan was founded as a private social club by several Confederate Army veterans in Pulaski, Tenn.
1871	Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Aida” had its world premiere in Cairo, Egypt, to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal.
1906	Canadian physicist Reginald A. Fessenden became the first person to broadcast a music program over radio, from Brant Rock, Mass.
1920	Enrico Caruso gave his last public performance, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
1943	President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower supreme commander of Allied forces during World War II.
1992	President George H.W. Bush pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and five others in the Iran-Contra scandal.
2002	Laci Peterson was reported missing from her Modesto, Calif., home, by her husband, Scott, who was later convicted of murdering her and their unborn son.
2009	The Senate passed health care legislation, 60-39, in the chamber’s first Christmas Eve vote since 1895.
2009	A woman jumped barriers in St. Peter’s Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI as he was walking down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass; the pope was unhurt.

1927	Mary Higgins Clark, Mystery writer, turns 84
1940	Anthony Fauci, Public health official, turns 71
1946	Jeff Sessions, U.S. senator, R-Ala., turns 65
1966	Diedrich Bader, Actor (“The Drew Carey Show”), turns 45
1973	Stephenie Meyer, Author (“Twilight” series), turns 38

60	William Paterson 12/24/1745 – 9/9/1806 Irish-born American governor of New Jersey
58	Kit Carson 12/24/1809 – 5/23/1868 American frontiersman and folk hero
65	Matthew Arnold 12/24/1822 – 4/15/1888 English poet and social critic
73	Michael Curtiz 12/24/1886 – 4/10/1962 Hungarian-born American film director
22	Georges-Marie Guynemer 12/24/1894 – 9/11/1917 French World War I combat pilot
60	Baby Dodds 12/24/1898 – 2/14/1959 American jazz musician
70	Howard Hughes 12/24/1905 – 4/5/1976 American manufacturer and aviator
67	Ava Gardner 12/24/1922 – 1/25/1990 American actress