ROSS SIMPSON

The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore (" ‘Twas
the night before Christmas…") was published on this day in 1823.

ROSS SIMPSON

On this day in 1978, Cult leader Jim Jones and hundreds of his
followers died in a mass murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana
in South America. It was the largest mass suicide in modern
history and resulted in the largest single loss of American
civilian life in a non-natural disaster until September 11, 2001.

Shown are bodies of members of the Peoples Temple who died
after their leader Jim Jones ordered them to drink Flav-R-Aid
laced with cyanide. 

Congressman Leo Ryan (above) was among five killed by Temple members at the nearby Port Kaituma airstrip (below).

The first successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon premiered
in New York on this day in 1928. It was Walt Disney’s "Steamboat
Willie," starring Mickey Mouse.

Walt Disney drawing “Steamboat Willie”.

SANDY KOZEL

On this day in 1517, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door
of the Wittenberg Palace Church. The event marked the start of the Protestant Reformation in Germany.

Martin Luther statue in Wittenberg, Germany.

President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered a halt to all U.S. bombing of
North Vietnam on this day in 1968. He also announced his intention
not to run for re-election.

Above — a B-52 bomber drops a load of conventional bombs on
North Vietnam.

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1859, Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal
arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA (now located in West Virginia). He was
hoping to instigate a wider slave rebellion.

"John Brown’s Fort" at Harpers Ferry.

John Brown (May 9, 1800 – December 2, 1859)

On this day in 1987, Rescuers freed Jessica McClure from the
abandoned well that she had fallen into in Midland, TX. She
was trapped for 58 hours.

Jessica McClure Morales turned 32 on March 26.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

President George H. W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas, (above) 
a federal Circuit Judge in 1991, to succeed retiring Supreme Court 
Justice Thurgood Marshall. Senate confirmation hearings on Thomas 
were initially completed until a report of a private interview of Anita
Hill by the FBI was leaked to the press. The hearings were then 
reopened, and Hill was called to publicly testify. She said in the 
televised hearings on this day in 1991, Thomas had sexually
harassed her while he was her supervisor at the Department of
Education and the EEOC.

Anita Faye Hill

Anita Hill turned 62 in July.

Clarence Thomas became 70 years old in June.

On this day in 1975, "Saturday Night Live" was broadcast for the first time. George Carlin (below) was the guest host.

Cheesebuga! Cheesebuga! Cheesebuga!