Today's Highlight in History:
On December 30th, 1922, Vladimir I. Lenin proclaimed声明，宣告 the establishment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

On this date:
In 1853, the United States bought some 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico in a deal known as the Gadsden Purchase加兹登购地.

In 1865, author Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, India.

In 1903, about 600 people died when fire broke out at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago.

In 1911, Sun Yat-sen was elected the first president of the Republic of China.

In 1936, the United Auto Workers union staged its first "sit-down" strike, at the Fisher Body Plant Number One in Flint, Michigan.

In 1944, King George the Second of Greece proclaimed a regency摄政 to rule his country, virtually renouncing the throne.

In 1947, King Michael of Romania agreed to abdicate退位，放弃, but charged he was being forced off the throne by Communists.

In 1948, the Cole Porter musical "Kiss Me, Kate" opened on Broadway.

In 1972, the United States halted停止，停顿 its heavy bombing of North Vietnam.

In 1993, Israel and the Vatican agreed to recognize each other.

Ten years ago: A Northwest Airlines DC-10, which had been the target of a telephoned threat, flew safely from Paris to Detroit with 17 passengers aboard amid extra-tight security.

Five years ago: US Army helicopter pilot Bobby Hall walked to freedom 13 days after he was captured by North Korea in a shootdown that claimed the life of co-pilot David Hilemon. A gunman walked into a pair of suburban郊区居民 Boston abortion clinics and opened fire, killing two employees and wounding five other people (John C. Salvi the Third was later convicted定罪 of murder; he committed suicide in prison).

One year ago: Weak but radiant容光焕发的 with pride, Nkem Chukwu, the mother of the Houston octuplets八胞胎, went home from the hospital.