Today in History - History - December 23rd

1987Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, serving a life sentence for attempted assassination of Pres Gerald R Ford escapes from Alderson Prison

1913President Woodrow Wilson signs Federal Reserve Act into law

1997Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson is quickest to reach 500 wins (682 games)

1933Howie Morenz takes over NHL career goal lead at 251

1994Fearing arrest by the FBI, Whitey Bulger flees Boston, and successfully hides from law enforcement for the next 16 years

1888Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh cuts off his left ear

1776Thomas Paine writes "These are the times that try men's souls"

1862Union General Ben "Beast" Butler is proclaimed a "felon, outlaw & common enemy of mankind" by Jefferson Davis

1961Fidel Castro announces Cuba will release 1,113 prisoners from failed 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion for $62M worth of food & medical supplies

1921Gangster Carlo Gambino enters the United States as an illegal immigrant on the SS Vincenzo Florio

245Zenobia, Palmyra, Syria, Queen of Palmyra, (d. 274)

1867Madame C. J. Walker, Louisiana, cosmetic mogul (Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company), (d. 1919)

1805Joseph Smith Jr, Sharon Vermont, founder (Mormon Church), (d. 1844)

1891Cy Denneny, Farran's Point Ontario, Canadian ice hockey hall of famer

1979Stevie Ray Vaughan (25) weds Lenora "Lenny" Bailey (div. 1988)

1981Astronaut Chris Hadfield (22) weds high-school girlfriend Helene Walter

1951MLB centerfielder Mickey Mantle (20) weds author Merlyn Mantle (19) in Commerce, Oklahoma

1961Actor Martin Sheen (21) weds Janet Templeton

1847Prime Minister of Canada Mackenzie Bowell (24) weds Harriet Moore

2007"Dr. Izzie Stevens" actress Katherine Heigl (29) weds singer-songwriter Josh Kelley (27) at Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah