Tuesday, December 2, 1997
Today's events
An international conference at which a treaty banning
landmines is to be signed will be held in Ottawa, Canada.
NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin visits Sweden.
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On the horizon
On Wednesday, December 3, the United Nations marks the
International Day of Disabled Persons.
On Thursday, December 4, the English National Ballet will
hold a special performance of "The Nutcracker" dedicated to
patron Diana, Princess of Wales.
On Friday, December 5, the 5th China International
Environmental Protection Exhibition and Conference is set to begin in Beijing.
On Saturday, December 6, about 50 heads of state are expected to attend the Organization
of the Islamic Conference summit in Tehran.
On Sunday, December 7, the Eleventh International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Africa opens.
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On this day
In 1254, Manfred, King of Sicily, defeated papal armies at the battle of Foggia and retained his kingdom.
In 1547, Hernando Cortes, Spanish conqueror of Mexico, died.
He fought and conquered Mexico, and in 1522 became governor and captain-general of "New Spain."
In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned emperor of France in
Paris by Pope Pius VII.
In 1805, Napoleon defeated Russia and Austria at the battle of Austerlitz. Known as the "Battle of the Three Emperors," Napoleon's 75,000 men drove the allies across the frozen Lake Menitz. Only 25,000 survived an original allied force of 95,000.
In 1814, the Comte de Sade, known as the Marquis de Sade,
died. His sexual fetishes and writings about them led to the term "sadism."
In 1823, U.S. President James Monroe introduced his "Monroe
Doctrine" under which it was held that the American continents were not to open to future colonization by any European power.
In 1852, in France, the Second Empire was proclaimed with
Napoleon III as emperor.
In 1859, John Brown, American anti-slavery campaigner, was
hanged after a raid on the federal arsenal in
Virginia.
In 1901, King Camp Gillette patented the first safety razor
with a double-edged disposable blade.
In 1942, the world's first nuclear chain reaction took place
at the University of Chicago when physicists led by Enrico Fermi successfully carried out their research.
In 1954, Sen. Joseph McCarthy was condemned by the U.S. Senate for misconduct after his ruthless investigations of thousands of suspected Communists.
In 1971, the United Arab Emirates was formed, consisting of
the former Trucial states Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Qaiwain and Fujairah; Ras al-Khaimah became a member in 1972.
In 1971, the unmanned Soviet spacecraft Mars 3 landed on Mars.
In 1979, in Iran, electors voted overwhelmingly in favor of a
new constitution giving absolute power to Ayatollah Khomeini.
In 1982, the first permanent artificial heart was implanted in Dr. Barney Clark, a Seattle dentist, by Dr. William De Vries at the University of Utah.
In 1991, Joseph Cicippio, a U.S. hostage in Lebanon, was freed after being held for 1,906 days by the Revolutionary Justice Organization (RJO). He was kidnapped September 12, 1986.
In 1993, Pablo Escobar, boss of the Medellin cocaine cartel in Colombia, was killed in a shootout as police tried to arrest him.
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Newslink
Several U.S. national parks were established on this date. To plan a trip or make a virtual visit to some of the most beautiful spots in the country, check out the National Park Service's
ParkNet.
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Holidays and more
Cuba celebrates Armed Forces Day and Landing of the Granma Expedition.
United Arab Emirates celebrates National Day.
Figure skater Randy Gardner is 39.
Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig is 73.
Actress Julie Harris is 72.
Former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III is 66.
Photographer William Wegman is 54.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan
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