A Pen Stroke for Equality: The End of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
On December 22, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' ending the ban on openly gay service in the U.S. military.
On December 22
The Helicopter on the Roof: Romania's Dictator Flees
On December 22, 1989, Romania's dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled Bucharest by helicopter as protesters stormed Communist Party headquarters, ending 24 years of brutal rule.
Four Notes That Shook the World: Beethoven's Fifth Premieres
On December 22, 1808, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony received its world premiere at a freezing, marathon all-Beethoven concert in Vienna.