Video: 'The 13th Amendment Explained: The Constitution for Dummies'
(Monday, December 18, 1865) — The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, abolishing slavery, was declared in effect today by Secretary of State William H. Seward, having been ratified by three-quarters of the states (including those in secession) as of Dec. 6, 1865.
Slavery is legally outlawed in the last two slave states of Kentucky and Delaware and the remaining 45,000 slaves are freed.
Video: 'Beatles Cartoons Episode 13'
(Saturday, December 18, 1965, 10:30 a.m. EST) –The Beatles are in Hollywood, where a film producer hires Ringo as stuntman double for Rory Rock and later in Rome, they decide to find a lovely souvenir to take back to the Royal British Museum on this morning’s episode of The Beatles, a weekly cartoon television series on ABC.
Video: 'President Ford Shooting Attempt by Squeeky Fromme, Sacramento (1975)'
(Wednesday, December 17, 1975) — Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme was sentenced today in Sacramento, California, to life in prison for her Sept. 5, 1975, attempt on the life of President Gerald R. Ford at a hearing at which she screamed and hit the prosecutor with an apple.
Video: 'Schubert: Unfinished Symphony No.8'
(Sunday, December 17, 1865) — Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, known as the “Unfinished” because only two movements had been completed, was first performed publicly today in Vienna, 37 years after the composer’s death.
Video: 'The Color Purple' trailer
(Monday, December 16, 1985) — The Color Purple, a period drama film about a young African-American woman who fights for independence during the early years of the 20th century, premiered tonight at Cinema 1 in New York City.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film starred Danny Glover, Adolph Caesar, Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong and Whoopi Goldberg.
Video: 'Paul Castellano's Death Scene In - GOTTI'
(Monday, December 16, 1985, at about 5:26 p.m. EST) — Organized-crime chief Paul Castellano and his bodyguard were shot to death today outside a New York City restaurant on East 46th Street near Third Avenue on orders from John Gotti. Continue reading Organized-crime chief Paul Castellano shot dead stepping from car 30 years ago this hour (Dec 16 1985)
(Saturday, December 16, 1995) — “Beautiful Life” by Ace of Base peaked at #15 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
Video: 'President Reagan's Remarks at a Service in Fort Campbell, Kentucky'
(Monday, December 16, 1985, 10:38 a.m. CST) — Saying that “love is never wasted, love is never lost,” U.S. President Ronald Reagan came to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, today to embrace weeping families of the 248 American soldiers who died in a plane crash in Gander, Newfoundland on Dec. 12, 1985.
Video: '(4) Gemini 6 (CBS NEWS)' (CBS coverage begins at 12:30:00 UTC with launch at 13:37:26 UTC)
(Wednesday, December 15, 1965, 17:27 UTC) — Two U.S. manned spacecraft, Gemini 6A and Gemini 7, maneuvered to within 10 feet of each other today while in orbit.
(Saturday, December 14, 1985) — “Sun City” by Artists United Against Apartheid peaked at #38 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Sun City’ by Artists United Against Apartheid peaks at #38 in USA 30 years ago today (Dec 14 1985)
