Laotian Civil War: The Pathet Lao seizes the Laotian capital of Vientiane, forces the abdication of King Sisavang Vatthana, and proclaims the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Date: December 2, 1975 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1975 📅 On This Day (Today)

Fidel Castro becomes President of Cuba, replacing Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado. Date: December 2, 1976 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1976 📅 On This Day (Today)

A Tupolev Tu-154 crashes near Benghazi, Libya, killing 59. Date: December 2, 1977 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1977 📅 On This Day (Today)

Salvadoran Civil War: Four American missionaries are raped and murdered by a death squad. Date: December 2, 1980 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1980 📅 On This Day (Today)

At the University of Utah, Barney Clark becomes the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart. Date: December 2, 1982 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1982 📅 On This Day (Today)

Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-27, a classified mission for the United States Department of Defense. Date: December 2, 1988 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1988 📅 On This Day (Today)

Benazir Bhutto is sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority state. Date: December 2, 1988 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1988 📅 On This Day (Today)

The Peace Agreement of Hat Yai is signed and ratified by the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) and the governments of Malaysia and Thailand, ending the over two-decade-long communist insurgency in Malaysia. Date: December 2, 1989 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1989 📅 On…

Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-35, carrying the ASTRO-1 spacelab observatory. Date: December 2, 1990 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1990 📅 On This Day (Today)

Canada and Poland become the first nations to recognize the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union. Date: December 2, 1991 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on December 2 📅 Events on this day in 1991 📅 On This Day (Today)