December 2nd, 2008

Today in History

1999:
The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to a the Northern Ireland Executive.

1962:
Vietnam War: After a trip to Vietnam at the request of US President John F. Kennedy, US Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield becomes the first American official to not make an optimistic public comment on the war's progress.

1961:
Cold War: In a nationally broadcast speech, Cuban leader Fidel Castro declares that he is a Marxist-Leninist and that Cuba was going to adopt Communism.

1852:
Napoleon III becomes Emperor of France.

1823:
US President James Monroe delivers a speech establishing American neutrality in future European conflicts (later be called the Monroe Doctrine).