TODAY IN HISTORY

Sunday, December  29, 2013 AP Highlight in History:  On Dec. 29, 1989, playwright Vaclav Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia by the country's Federal Assembly, becoming the first non-Communist to hold the post in more than four decades.   AP Photo/Diether Endlicher
On this date in: 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in England. 1808 Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, was born in Raleigh, N.C. AP Photo 1845 Texas was admitted to the union as the 28th state. 1851 The first American Young Men's Christian Association was organized, in Boston. 1890 U.S. troops killed as many as 400 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee, S.D. 1916 Gregory Rasputin, the monk who had wielded powerful influence over the Russian court, was murdered by a group of noblemen. 1940 Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on London during World War II. 1996 War-weary guerrilla and government leaders in Guatemala signed an accord ending 36 years of civil conflict. 1998 Khmer Rouge leaders apologized for the 1970s genocide in Cambodia that claimed 1 million lives. 1999 The Nasdaq composite index closed above 4,000 for the first time, ending the day at 4,041.46. 2007 The New England Patriots became the first NFL team in 35 years to finish the regular season undefeated when they beat the New York Giants 38-35 to go 16-0.		Video HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS DAY IN HISTORY Today's Birthdays: Actress Patricia Clarkson turns 54 years old today. AP Photo/Dan Steinberg Name Profession Age Inga Swenson Actress ("Benson") 81 Tom Jarriel Broadcast journalist 79 Mary Tyler Moore Actress 77 Marianne Faithfull Rock singer 67 Ted Danson Actor ("Cheers") 66 Paula Poundstone Comedian 54 Sean Payton Football coach 50 Andy Wachowski Director ("Matrix" films) 46 Jude Law Actor 41 Mekhi Phifer Actor ("ER") 39 Diego Luna Actor 34 Actor Jon Voight turns 75 years old today. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello