On this date:
In 1756, America's third vice president, Aaron Burr, was born in Newark, New Jersey.
In 1778, the United States won official recognition from France with the signing of treaties in Paris.
In 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the US Constitution.
In 1895, baseball legend Babe Ruth was born in Baltimore.
In 1899, a peace treaty between the United States and Spain was ratified by the US Senate.
In 1933, the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the so-called "lame duck" amendment, was declared in effect.
In 1959, the United States successfully test-fired for the first time a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile from Cape Canaveral.
In 1993, tennis Hall-of-Famer and human rights advocate Arthur Ashe died in New York at age 49.
In 1998, President Clinton signed a bill changing the name of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Ten years ago: Soviet Communist Party leaders decided to extend a two-day party session by an extra day amid controversy over Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev's proposals to revamp the country's political structure.
Five years ago: President Clinton unveiled his $1.61 trillion budget for 1996, mixing mild tax relief and spending reductions. Siddig Ibrahim Siddig Ali, the alleged mastermind of a campaign of violence, pleaded guilty in New York to plotting urban terrorism. The space shuttle "Discovery" flew to within 37 feet of the Russian space station "Mir" in the first rendezvous of its kind in two decades.
One year ago: The public finally got to see and hear Monica Lewinsky as excerpts of the former White House intern's videotaped testimony were shown at President Clinton's impeachment trial. President Clinton requested legislation to require background checks on buyers at gun shows.
"The only discipline that lasts is self-discipline."
-- Bum Phillips, American football coach.