Friday, December 19, 1997
Today's events
The verdict in the trial of a 75-year-old German charged
with participating in a World War II massacre of Jews in
Ukraine is expected in a Cologne courtroom.
Gueorgui Makharadze, the Georgian diplomat who pleaded
guilty October 8 to aggravated assault and manslaughter in
the drunken-driving related death of a Maryland teen-ager, is
scheduled to be sentenced.
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On the horizon
On Saturday, December 20, the Progress M-37 cargo ship is to
launch from Kazakhstan on its way to the Mir space station.
On Sunday, December 21, presidential elections are held in
Lithuania.
On Monday, December 22, the Progress M-37 cargo ship is
scheduled to dock with the Mir space station.
On Tuesday, December 23, the National Menorah will be lit in
Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, December 24, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah
begins.
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On this day
In 1732, Benjamin Frankin began the publication of "Poor
Richard's Almanack."
In 1741, Vitus Bering, Dutch navigator and explorer, died.
In 1776, Thomas Paine published his first "American Crisis"
essay.
In 1777, Washington settled his troops at Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania, for the winter.
In 1842, the United States recognized the independence of
Hawaii.
In 1932, the British Broadcasting Corp. began transmitting
overseas.
In 1946, war broke out in Indochina as Ho Chi Minh attacked
the French.
In 1950, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was named NATO commander.
In 1957 "The Music Man," starring Robert Preston, opened on
Broadway.
In 1971, NASA launched Intelsat 4 F-3 for COMSAT Corp.
In 1972, Apollo 17 returned to Earth.
In 1977, Nellie Tayloe Ross, first female U.S. governor,
dies at 101.
In 1986, Russia freed dissident Andrei Sakharov from
internal exile.
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Newslink
Want to know more about the real-life story behind "Amistad"? Check out Exploring Amistad.
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Holidays and more
Actress Jennifer Beals is 34.
Singer Janie Frickie is 45.
Anthropologist Richard Leakey is 53.
Former basketball player Kevin McHale is 40.
Actress Alyssa Milano is 25.
Actor Tim Reid is 53.
Actress Helen Slater is 34.
Actress Cicely Tyson is 58.
Actor Robert Urich is 52.
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Sources: Associated Press,
Chase's Calendar of Events 1997, J.P. Morgan
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