Today's Highlight in History:
On December 20th, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede退出，脱离 from the Union.

On this date:
In 1790, the first successful cotton mill纺织厂 in the United States began operating at Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase路易斯安那购买案 was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States during ceremonies in New Orleans.

In 1864, Confederate同盟的，联合的 forces evacuated Savannah, Georgia, as Union General William T. Sherman continued his "March to the Sea."

In 1879, Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrated his incandescent light 白炽灯at Menlo Park, New Jersey.

In 1945, the Office of Price Administration announced the end of tire rationing定量配给, effective January first, 1946.

In 1963, the Berlin Wall was opened for the first time to West Berliners, who were allowed one-day visits to relatives in the Eastern sector for the holidays.

In 1968, author John Steinbeck died in New York at age 66.

In 1976, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley died at age 74.

In 1980, the government of the Soviet Union confirmed that former Premier Alexei N. Kosygin had died two days earlier at the age of 76.

In 1987, more than 3,000 people were killed when the "Dona Paz," a Philippine passenger ship, collided with the tanker "Vector" off Mindoro island.

Ten years ago: The United States launched Operation "Just Cause正当理由，正义事业," sending troops into Panama to topple颠覆，推倒 the government of General Manuel Noriega.

Five years ago: Former President Jimmy Carter succeeded in getting Bosnia's warring factions内讧 to agree to a temporary cease-fire. Intel announced it would replace all flawed有缺陷的，有瑕疵的 Pentium computer chips. Marcelino Corniel, a homeless man, was shot and mortally致命地 wounded by White House security officers as he brandished挥舞，炫耀 a knife near the execution mansion大厦，宅邸. Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk died in Athens, Georgia, at age 85.

One year ago: Nkem Chukwu gave birth in Houston to five girls and two boys, 12 days after giving birth to another child, a girl. (However, the tiniest of the babies died a week later.)