MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2007

Today is Monday, December 24, the 358th day of 2007. There are 7 days left in the year.

640 _ John IV begins his reign as Catholic pope

1798 _ Russia and England sign the second anti-French coalition

1818 _ ``Silent Night" composed by Franz Joseph Gruber; sung for the first time the next day

1893 _ Henry Ford completes his first useful gas motor

1914 _ German plane drops bombs on Dover, England

1920 _ Enrico Caruso gives his last public performance (New York City)

1922 _ BBC sends the first British radio play ``Truth about Father Christmas"

1943 _ FDR appoints General Eisenhower supreme commander of Allied forces

1951 _ The United Kingdom of Libya gains independence from Italy via the U.N.

1954 _ Laos gains its independence

1967 _ China performs nuclear test at Lop Nor

1970 _ Walt Disney's ``The Aristocats" is released

1980 _ Americans remembered Iran hostages by shining lights for 417 seconds

1986 _ Iran offensive against Iraqi islands of Shatt al-Arab

1990 _ Saddam says Israel will be Iraq's 1st target

1991 _ Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as head of the Soviet Union

1992 _ President Bush pardons Caspar Weinberger of Iran-contra affair