Today in History - History - December 22nd

2010The repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, the 17-year-old policy banning on homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, was signed into law by President Barack Obama.

1983Egyptian president Mubarak meets with PLO leader Yasser Arafat

1980US President-elect Ronald Reagan appoints J Kirkpatrick (UN) & James Watt (Interior)

1894Claude Debussy's "Prélude à l'apres-midi d'un faune" premieres

1974Phil Esposito, Boston, became 6th NHLer to score 500 goals

18821st string of Christmas tree lights created by Thomas Edison

2003The New York Knicks hire Isiah Thomas as President of Basketball Operations

1832HMS Beagle/Charles Darwin reaches Barnevelts Islands

1942World War II: Adolf Hitler signs the order to develop the V-2 rocket as a weapon.

1939Bradman scores 138 in South Australia's 7-821 v Queensland

1858Giacomo Puccini, Lucca Italy opera composer (La bohème, Tosca, Madame Butterfly), (d. 1924)

1949Maurice Gibb, Douglas Isle of Man, rocker (Bee Gees-Saturday Night Fever)

1862Connie Mack, East Brookfield, Massachusetts, HOF baseball executive/manager (Phila A's 1900-1950), (d. 1956)

1856Frank Kellogg, Potsdam, New York, Sec of State (1925-29), try to outlaw war (Nobel 1929), (d. 1937)

1949Robin Gibb, Douglas Isle of Man, rocker (Bee Gees-Saturday Night Fever), (d. 2012)

1744Abigail Adams, Weymouth Massachusetts, 2nd first lady (1797-1801)

1915Biologist Alexander Fleming (34) weds Sara McElroy

1960NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton (20) weds Anna Elaine Merrell at First Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia

1988Chico Mendes, Brazilian environmental activist and rubber tapper, assassinated at 44 by rancher Darcy Alves

1989Samuel Beckett, Irish/French writer (Molloy, Nobel 1969), dies at 83