This day in history

[December 20, 2010]  (AP)  Today is Monday, Dec. 20, the 354th day of 2010. There are 11 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Dec. 20, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union as all 169 delegates to a special convention in Charleston voted in favor of separation.

On this date:

In 1790, the first successful cotton mill in the United States began operating at Pawtucket, R.I.

In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States.

In 1864, Confederate forces evacuated Savannah, Ga., as Union Gen. William T. Sherman continued his "March to the Sea."

In 1945, the Office of Price Administration announced the end of tire rationing, effective Jan. 1, 1946.

In 1963, the Berlin Wall was opened for the first time to West Berliners, who were allowed one-day visits to relatives in the Eastern sector for the holidays.

In 1976, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley died at age 74.

In 1978, former White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman was released from prison after serving 18 months for his role in the Watergate cover-up.

In 1987, more than 4,300 people were killed when the Dona Paz, a Philippine passenger ship, collided with the tanker Vector off Mindoro island.

In 1989, the United States launched Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government of Gen. Manuel Noriega.

In 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that homosexual couples were entitled to the same benefits and protections as wedded couples of the opposite sex.

Ten years ago: President-elect George W. Bush named businessman Paul O'Neill to be his Treasury Secretary; Ann Veneman to be the first female Secretary of Agriculture; Mel Martinez to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and Don Evans, Secretary of Commerce.

Five years ago: New York City transit workers began a strike that shut down subways and buses for three days. A federal judge ruled that "intelligent design" could not be mentioned in biology classes in a Pennsylvania public school district.

One year ago: Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, 87, the spiritual father of Iran's reform movement, died. Actress Brittany Murphy, who'd starred in "Clueless" and "8 Mile," died at age 32. Character actor Arnold Stang died in Newton, Mass. at age 91.

Today's birthdays: Actress Audrey Totter is 93. Comedian Charlie Callas is 83. Actor John Hillerman is 78. Actress Kathryn Joosten is 71. Rock musician-music producer Bobby Colomby is 66. Rock musician Peter Criss is 65. Psychic/illusionist Uri Geller is 64. Producer Dick Wolf ("Law & Order") is 64. Rock musician Alan Parsons is 62. Actress Jenny Agutter is 58. Actor Michael Badalucco is 56. Actress Blanche Baker is 54. Rock singer Billy Bragg is 53. Rock singer-musician Mike Watt (The Secondmen, Minutemen, fIREHOSE) is 53. Actor Joel Gretsch is 47. Country singer Kris Tyler is 46. Rock singer Chris Robinson is 44. Actress Nicole deBoer is 40. Movie director Todd Phillips is 40. Singer David Cook ("American Idol") is 28. Actor Jonah Hill is 27. Singer JoJo is 20.

Thought for today: "We are all citizens of history." -- Clifton Fadiman, American author, editor and radio personality (1904-1999)

[Associated Press]

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