This day in history

[December 16, 2008]  (AP)  Today is Tuesday, Dec. 16, the 351st day of 2008. There are 15 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On Dec. 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party took place as American colonists boarded a British ship and dumped more than 300 chests of tea overboard to protest tea taxes.

On this date:

In 1653, Oliver Cromwell became lord protector of England, Scotland and Ireland.

In 1770, composer Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany.

In 1905, the entertainment trade publication Variety came out with its first weekly issue.

In 1907, 16 U.S. Navy battleships, which came to be known as the "Great White Fleet," set sail on a 14-month round-the-world voyage to demonstrate American sea power.

In 1944, the World War II Battle of the Bulge began as German forces launched a surprise attack against Allied forces in Belgium (the Allies were eventually able to beat the Germans back)

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In 1950, President Harry S. Truman proclaimed a national state of emergency in order to fight "world conquest by Communist imperialism."

In 1960, 134 people were killed when a United Air Lines DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation collided over New York City.

In 1976, the government halted its swine flu vaccination program following reports of paralysis apparently linked to the vaccine.

In 1991, the U.N. General Assembly rescinded its 1975 resolution equating Zionism with racism by a vote of 111-25.

In 2000, President-elect George W. Bush selected Colin Powell to become the first black secretary of state.

Ten years ago: President Bill Clinton ordered a sustained series of airstrikes against Iraq by American and British forces in response to Saddam Hussein's continued defiance of UN weapons inspectors. The House delayed a debate set to begin the next day on four articles of impeachment against President Clinton.

Five years ago: President George W. Bush signed a number of measures into law, including legislation meant to stem the flood of junk e-mail known as "spam" and a bill to establish a national museum devoted to black history. President Bush told ABC News that Saddam Hussein deserved the "ultimate penalty" for his crimes. Germany and France, two of the most ardent opponents of the American-led war, agreed to relieve Iraq's debt burden. Actress Madlyn Rhue died in Los Angeles at age 68.

One year ago: British forces formally handed over to Iraq responsibility for Basra, the last Iraqi region under their control. Turkish warplanes hit Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq, the largest aerial attack in years against the separatist group. Singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg died in Deer Isle, Maine, at age 56.

Today's birthdays: Civil rights attorney Morris Dees is 72. Actress Joyce Bulifant is 71. Actress Liv Ullmann is 70. CBS news correspondent Lesley Stahl is 67. TV producer Steven Bochco is 65. Pop musician Tony Hicks (The Hollies) is 63. Pop singer Benny Andersson (ABBA) is 62. Actor Ben Cross is 61. Rock singer-musician Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) is 59. Rock musician Bill Bateman (The Blasters) is 57. Actress Alison LaPlaca is 49. Actor Sam Robards is 47. Actor Jon Tenney is 47. Actor Benjamin Bratt is 45. Country singer-songwriter Jeff Carson is 45. Rhythm-and-blues singer Michael McCary is 37. Country musician Chris Scruggs is 26. Actress Hallee Hirsh is 21. Actress Anna Popplewell is 20

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Thought for today: "Somewhere in the world there is an epigram for every dilemma." -- Hendrik Willem Van Loon, Dutch-born journalist and lecturer (1882-1944)

[Associated Press]

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