1989 U.S. Invades Panama

On  Dec. 20, 1989, U.S. troops invaded Panama, with the goal of ousting dictator Manuel Noriega, who had a reputation of drug trafficking and suppressing democracy in Panama.  U.S. Drug Enforcement agents arrested Noriega on Jan. 3, 1990.  He was later convicted on counts of drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering, and eventually received a 40-year prison sentence.

1995 NATO Takes Over Peacekeeping Effort in Bosnia

The United Nations Peacekeeping force in Bosnia handed over duties to NATO.  60,000 NATO troops were deployed to uphold stipulations of a peace treaty signed on Dec. 14, 1995.

2002 Trent Lott Resigns as Senate Republican Leader

At a party for Strom Thurmond, Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott made controversial remarks regarding Thurmond's 1948 segregationist presidential campaign.  Lott's comments ignited a firestorm and rebuke from President Bush.  Lott resigned as Senate Republican leader on Dec. 20, 2002, but remained in the Senate until 2007.

Famous Birthdays

1957 Billy Bragg

1982 David Cook

1982 David Wright

1983 Jonah Hill

Jump back to Dec. 19: Day in History.

View more videos from This Month in History: December.