THE HISTORY OF DECEMBER 2

THE HISTORY OF DECEMBER 2

WORLD EVENTS

Today is National Fritters Day

1763  Touro Shul, the oldest existing US Synagogue, was dedicated in Newport, Rhode Island

1776  George Washington and his army began a retreat across the Delaware River

1804  Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of France

1812  James Madison was re-elected President of the US

1816  The first savings bank in the US opened in Philadelphia

1840  William Henry Harrison was elected US President

1859  US abolitionist John Brown was hanged for his raid on Harper’s Ferry the previous October

1892  American financier John Gould died – estimated fortune then was $72 million

1923  Opera singer Maria Callas was born

1924  Alexander Haig was born – Army General and Secretary of State

1927  Henry Ford introduced the successor to the Model T – the Model A – first one sold for $385

1938  Albert Kessel became the first person to die in California’s gas chamber

1942  A self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was demonstrated for the first time at the University of Chicago

1946  Designer Gianni Versace was born

1968  Actress Lucy Liu was born

1954  The US Senate voted 67-22 to censure Senator Joseph McCarthy

1981  Singer Britney Spears was born

1986  Musician/actor Desi Arnaz died – “I Love Lucy”

1993  Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar was shot and killed in Medellin

1994  “Hollywood Madam” Heidi Fleiss was convicted of three counts of pandering

2001  Enron filed for bankruptcy

SPORTS HISTORY ON DECEMBER 2

1996  Clyde Drexler becomes only the 5^th NBA player in history to have 2,000 career steals

1993  Houston Rockets get their 15^th straight win to start the season 

1989  Andre Ware wins the 55^th Heisman award

1986  Boston Celtics lose to Washington 117-109 – had won 38 straight home games

1981  Fernando Valenzuela of Dodgers is NL Rookie of the Year – 13-7, 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games, 8 shutouts, 180 strikeouts

1962  In the AFL, Houston beats Denver 34-17 – Denver QBs threw 8 interceptions and had a total of 9 turnovers, George Blanda of Houston managed to throw 5 interceptions himself, but also threw 3 TDs

1951  Philadelphia sets NFL record with 25 rushing 1^st downs in the game

1948  Stan Musial is NL MVP - .376 average, 39 HRs, 131 RBI, 230 hits, 46 doubles, 18 triples

# 1 SONGS ON DECEMBER 2

1960  Are You Lonesome Tonight – Elvis Presley

1961  Big Bad John – Jimmy Dean

1962  Big Girls Don’t Cry – The Four Seasons

1963  Dominique – The Singing Nun

1964  Ringo – Lorne green

1965  Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds

1967  Daydream Believer – The Monkees

1968  Love Child – Diana Ross & the Supremes

1969  Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye - Steam

1970  I Think I Love You – The Partridge Family

1971  Family Affair – Sly & the Family Stone

1972  Papa Was a Rolling Stone – The Temptations

1973  Top of the World – The Carpenters

1974  Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

1975  Fly, Robin, Fly – Silver Connection

1976  Tonight’s the Night – Rod Stewart

1977  You Light Up My Life – Debby Boone

1978  You Don’t Bring Me Flowers – Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond

1980  Lady – Kenny Rogers

1981  Physical – Olivia Newton-John

1982  Truly – Lionel Richie

1983  All Night Long – Lionel Richie

1984  Out of Touch – Daryl Hall & John Oates

1985  Broken Wings – Mr. Mister

1986  The Next Time I Fall in Love – Peter Cetera & Amy Grant

1987  Heaven is a Place on Earth – Belinda Carlisle

1988  Baby I Love Your Way – Will to Power

1991  Black or White – Michael Jackson

1992  I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

1993  I’d Do Anything for Love – Meat Loaf

1994  On Bended Knee – Boyz II Men

1995  One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men

1996  Un-break My Heart – Toni Braxton

1997  Candle in the Wind (1997) – Elton John

1999  Smooth – Santana with Rob Thomas