Today is Wednesday, Dec. 18, the 353rd day of 2024. There are 13 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Dec. 18, 2019, the U.S. House impeached President Donald Trump on two charges, sending his case to the Senate for trial; the articles of impeachment accused him of abusing the power of the presidency to investigate rival Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election and then obstructing Congress’ investigation. (It was the first of two Trump impeachment trials that would end in acquittal by the Senate.)

Also on this date:

In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, was declared in effect by Secretary of State William H. Seward.

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Today in History: December 17, the Wright Brothers’ first flight

Today in History: December 16, the Boston Tea Party

Today in History: December 15, Dylann Roof convicted of killing 9 Black church members in South Carolina

Today in History: December 14, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting

Today in History: December 13, Saddam Hussein captured in Iraq

In 1892, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia; although now considered a classic, it received a generally negative reception from critics.

In 1917, Congress passed the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting “the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” and sent it to the states for ratification. (It was repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment.)

In 1957, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, the first nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States, went on line. (It was taken out of service in 1982.)

In 2011, the last convoy of heavily armored U.S. troops left Iraq, crossing into Kuwait in darkness in the final moments of a nearly nine-year war.

In 2022, Argentina beat France 4-2 in a penalty shootout to claim a third World Cup, the first for star Lionel Messi.

Today’s Birthdays:

Chef Jacques Pépin is 89.
Rock musician Keith Richards is 81.
Filmmaker Alan Rudolph is 81.
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg is 78.
Filmmaker Gillian Armstrong is 74.
R&B singer Angie Stone is 63.
Actor Brad Pitt is 61.
Singer Alejandro Sanz is 56.
Tennis Hall of Famer Arantxa Sanchez Vicario is 53.
Pop singer Sia is 49.
Country singer Randy Houser is 49.
Actor Katie Holmes is 46.
Singer Christina Aguilera is 44.
MLB outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is 27.
NFL quarterback Jayden Daniels is 24.
Singer Billie Eilish is 23.