Mark Twain is born, Lucy and Desi elope, civil war breaks out in Palestine, Bing and Bowie sing a Christmas duet, and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is released, all on this day.
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1995: U.S. President Bill Clinton becomes the first U.S. president to visit Northern Ireland. Speaking in favor of the "Northern Ireland peace process" to a huge rally and Christmas tree lighting at Belfast City Hall, he calls terrorists "yesterday's men."