Mahmoud Ahmadinejad takes office in Iran:
6th president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Coup in Mauritania:
Long-time president Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya was replaced by Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall until elections were held in 2005.
Niger gains its independence from France:
Hamani Diori became the first president of the country.
World’s first theme park in Santa Claus, Indiana USA:
Santa Claus Land is now known as Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.
- 1984 Ryan Lochte
American swimmer
- 1941 Martha Stewart
American businesswoman, publisher, author, founded Living Omnimedia
- 1940 Martin Sheen
American actor
- 1926 Tony Bennett
American singer
- 2008 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Russian soldie, author, Nobel Prize laureate
- 2004 Henri Cartier-Bresson
French photographer
- 1995 Ida Lupino
English actress, director
- 1929 Thorstein VeblenAmerican economist, sociologist
