December 30
1853
The United States bought some 45,000 sq mi of land from Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase.
1911
Sun Yat-sen was elected the first president of the Republic of China.
1922
The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics was established through the confederation of Russia, Byelorussia, Ukraine, and Transcaucasian Federation.
1940
California’s first freeway opened.
1972
President Nixon halted the heavy bombing on North Vietnam.
1993
Israel and the Vatican signed an agreement of mutual recognition to put an end to Jewish-Christian hostilities.
Birthdays
Rudyard Kipling
1865–1936, British Author.
Titus
emperor (39)
John Milne
seismologist (1850)
Alfred E. Smith
political leader (1873)
Paul Bowles
writer and composer (1910)
Jack Lord
actor (1920)
Bo Diddley
singer, guitarist, and songwriter (1928)
Sandy Koufax
baseball player (1935)
Jeff Lynne
singer and songwriter, and music producer (1947)
Tracey Ullman
comedian, actor, singer (1959)
Bennett Miller
filmmaker (1966)
Tiger Woods
golfer (1975)
Eliza Dushku
actor (1980)
Ryan Sheckler
skateboarder (1989)