The TIME Magazine Vault

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The Battle of the Bulge Begins

The famed World War II battle commenced with a German attack on Dec. 16, 1944 — 70 years ago.

It would continue for more than a month before the Allies were able to end it. "American divisions had hammered the bulge flat," TIME later reported, after the dust settled.

The Battle of the Bulge Begins

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Dec. 25, 1939

When Gone With the Wind Swept the U.S.

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TIME

The Bush v. Gore Decision

On Dec. 12, 2000, as the Presidential election battle between Al Gore and George W. Bush continued, the Supreme Court ruled that a ballot recount in Florida was unconstitutional — a decision that, in effect, gave the victory to Bush. The next day, Gore conceded. It was not only a crisis for the election process, but also for the constitution itself.

"Every once in a while," TIME observed, "we get to take the Constitution out for a spin."

The Bush v. Gore Decision

TIME

Jan. 2, 1928

The First-Ever Man of the Year

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Whole Earth from space, viewed from Apollo 17, December 1972.

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The Last Apollo Moon Landing

After years spent trying to get man to the moon, the Apollo program ended with its last moon landing taking place on the evening of Dec. 11, 1972.

"'We leave as we came and, God willing, we shall return with peace and hope for all mankind.' As he uttered those hopeful and heartfelt words, Apollo 17's commander, Gene Cernan, stepped from the surface of the moon and clambered up the ladder of lunar module Challenger," TIME reported.