Today is Tuesday, Dec. 9, the 343rd day of 2025. There are 22 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On Dec. 9, 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the first animated TV special featuring characters from the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, premiered on CBS.
Also on this date:
In 1990, Solidarity founder Lech Wałęsa won Poland’s first free presidential election since 1926.
In 1979, scientists certified the global eradication of smallpox, a disease which killed an estimated 300 million people in the 20th century.
In 1992, the first U.S. Marines made a predawn beach landing in Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope; they were met by hundreds of reporters awaiting their arrival.
In 2006, the space shuttle Discovery launched on a mission to add to and rewire the International Space Station.
In 2013, scientists revealed that NASA’s Curiosity rover had uncovered signs of an ancient freshwater lake on Mars.
In 2019, an island volcano off New Zealand’s coast called Whakaari, or White Island, erupted, killing 22 tourists and guides and seriously injuring several others. Most of the 47 people on the island were U.S. and Australian cruise ship passengers on a walking tour with the guides.
Related Articles
Today in Chicago History: ‘Empire’ actor Jussie Smollett found guilty for lying to police about purported attack
Chicago weather: How our 2025-26 seasonal snowfall compares with previous years
Today in Chicago History: United flight crashes into bungalows on approach to Midway, killing 45 people
Today in History: Brittney Griner freed in prisoner exchange
Soon no Pearl Harbor survivors will be alive. People turn to other ways to learn about the bombing.
In 2021, a cargo truck jammed with migrants crashed in southern Mexico, killing at least 53 people and injuring dozens more.
Today’s Birthdays: Actor Judi Dench is 91. Actor Beau Bridges is 84. World Golf Hall of Famer Tom Kite is 76. Actor John Malkovich is 72. Singer Donny Osmond is 68. Actor Felicity Huffman is 63. Empress Masako of Japan is 62. Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is 59. Rock singer-musician Jakob Dylan (Wallflowers) is 56. Actor Simon Helberg is 45. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist McKayla Maroney is 30. Actor Nico Parker is 21.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/today-in-history-a-charlie-brown-christmas-airs/
