On this day: December 20
POSTED: 10:21 PM PST Dec 19, 2012
UPDATED: 11:00 PM PST Dec 19, 2012
The Louisiana Purchase is completed, South Carolina secedes from the U.S., Edison demonstrates his incandescent light, Elvis gets drafted, and the U.S. invades Panama, all on this day.
Library of Congress
1976: Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley suffers a massive heart attack while visiting his doctor's office and dies at the age of 74. Daley, seen here applauding at right during the 1976 Illinois State Democratic Convention in Chicago, served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses."
