On this day :

1979 Soviet tanks roll into Afghanistan, 1745 Benjamin Rush is born, 1801 Richard Trevithick introduces his Puffing Devil, 1864 Bombardment of Fort Fisher begins, 1952 McCarrenWalter Act goes into effect, 1994 Islamic terrorists hijack a French plane, 1953 Volcanic eruption sweeps away train, 1814 War of 1812 ends, 1851 Fire ravages Library of Congress, 1865 KKK founded, 1997 Woody Allen marries SoonYi Previn, 1973 Stephenie Meyer bestselling author of vampire novels is born, 1988 Every Rose Has Its Thorn puts Poison atop the charts, 1809 Kit Carson born in Kentucky, 1851 Fire destroys Jefferson library, 1923 Coolidge lights first national Christmas tree, 1969 Curt Flood challenges MLB reserve clause, 1964 Viet Cong bomb Brinks Hotel, 1972 Bob Hope gives his last show in Vietnam, 1918 American soldier John Douglas writes home from postarmistice France, 1942 French Admiral Jean Darlan is assassinated,