Welcome to today’s edition of historical events on Thursday, December 11, 2025. It marks the 345th day of the year, with only 20 days remaining.
Notable Events on This Day:
On December 11, 1978, the infamous ‘Lufthansa Heist’ took place at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, where nearly $6 million in cash and jewelry were stolen. This robbery was later immortalized in the film “Goodfellas.”
Other Events on December 11:
– In 1816, Indiana was admitted as the 19th U.S. state.
– In 1936, King Edward VIII of Britain abdicated the throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Warfield Simpson, leading to his brother becoming King George VI.
– In 1946, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established.
– In 1972, Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan landed on the moon, making him and Harrison “Jack” Schmitt the last two Apollo astronauts to walk on the lunar surface.
– In 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation creating a $1.6 billion environmental “Superfund” to clean up hazardous chemical spills and toxic waste dumps.
– In 1997, a global warming conference in Kyoto, Japan, saw more than 150 countries agreeing to control the Earth’s greenhouse gases.
– In 1998, President Bill Clinton faced three articles of impeachment pushed through by majority Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee.
– In 2008, former Nasdaq chairman Bernie Madoff was arrested for running a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme.
– In 2020, the Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit supported by President Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory.
Celebrity Birthdays on December 11:
- – Rita Moreno, 94, Actor
- – John Kerry, 82, Former U.S. Secretary of State
- – Brenda Lee, 81, Singer
- – Jermaine Jackson, 71, Singer
- – Nikki Sixx, 67, Rock musician (Motley Crue)
- – Mo’Nique, 58, Actor-comedian
- – Daniel Alfredsson, 53, Hockey Hall of Famer
- – Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), 52, Rapper-actor
- – Colleen Hoover, 46, Author
- – Rider Strong, 46, Actor
- – Alexa Demie, 35, Actor
- – Hailee Steinfeld, 29, Actor
