1825 – Decembrist uprising in Russia against Tsar Nicholas I begins [O.S. 14 December]
1848 – 1st gold seekers arrive in Panama en route to San Francisco
1902 – Most knock downs in a fight, Oscar Nelson (5) and Christy Williams (42)
1918 – After spending Christmas with American troops in France, Wilson goes to London for preliminary discussions about the forthcoming peace conference
1941 – Winston Churchill becomes first British Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of the US Congress, warning that Axis would “stop at nothing”
1963 – “Double Dublin” opens at Little Theater NYC for 4 performances
1973 – Horror film “The Exorcist” based on book and screenplay by William Peter Blatty, starring Linda Blair, rated X, premieres – 1st horror film to be nominated for Best Picture
1988 – Anti African student rebellion in Nanjing, China
1988 – “Legs Diamond” opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 64 performances
1990 – Garry Kasparov beats Antatoly Karpov to retain chess championship