December 12 - This day in History

December 12: General Interest
1980: Da Vinci notebook sells for over 5 million

On this day in 1980, American oil tycoon Armand Hammer pays $5,126,000 at auction for a notebook containing writings by the legendary artist Leonardo da Vinci... read more


American Revolution
1787 : Pennsylvania ratifies the Constitution
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pennsylvania-ratifies-the-constitution


Automotive
2000 : GM announces phase-out of Oldsmobile
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gm-announces-phase-out-of-oldsmobile


Civil War
1806 : Cherokee leader and Confederate General Stand Watie is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stand-watie-born


Cold War
1987 : Shultz calls on European allies to increase defense spending
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/shultz-calls-on-european-allies-to-increase-defense-spending


Crime
1989 : The Queen of Mean is sentenced to the slammer
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-queen-of-mean-is-sentenced-to-the-slammer

1997 : A young murderer is indicted
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-young-murderer-is-indicted


Disaster
1917 : French soldiers killed in train accident
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-soldiers-killed-in-train-accident


General Interest
1901 : Marconi sends first Atlantic wireless transmission
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marconi-sends-first-atlantic-wireless-transmission

1913 : Mona Lisa recovered in Florence
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/imona-lisai-recovered-in-florence

1917 : Father Flanagan establishes Boys Town
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/father-flanagan-establishes-boys-town

1937 : USS Panay sunk by Japanese
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/uss-ipanayi-sunk-by-japanese


Hollywood
1967 : Hepburn, Tracy and Poitier star in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hepburn-tracy-and-poitier-star-in-guess-whos-coming-to-dinner


Literary
1821 : Flaubert is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/flaubert-is-born


Music
1970 : "Tears Of A Clown" gives Smokey Robinson & The Miracles their first #1 pop hit, finally
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quottears-of-a-clownquot-gives-smokey-robinson--the-miracles-their-first-1-pop-hit-finally


Old West
1929 : Cattle pioneer Charles Goodnight dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cattle-pioneer-charles-goodnight-dies


Presidential
1963 : JFK memorial album sets record for sales
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-memorial-album-sets-record-for-sales


Sports
1965 : NFL rookie Gale Sayers ties single-game TD record
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nfl-rookie-gale-sayers-ties-single-game-td-record


Vietnam War
1968 : Procedural questions cause difficulty at the peace talks
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/procedural-questions-cause-difficulty-at-the-peace-talks

1969 : Philippine soldiers depart South Vietnam
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/philippine-soldiers-depart-south-vietnam


World War I
1914 : Stocks tank as NYSE trading resumes
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stocks-tank-as-nyse-trading-resumes


World War II
1941 : United States seizes French liner Normandie
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-seizes-french-liner-normandie