Today in History: December 9:
On December 9, 1979, scientists certified the global eradication of smallpox.
In 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the first animated TV special featuring characters from the “Peanuts” comic strip premiered on CBS.
In 1990, Solidarity founder Lech Wałęsa won Poland’s first free presidential election since 1926.
On December 9, 1992, U.S. Marines conducted a predawn beach landing in Somalia as part of Operation Restore Hope.
In 2013, scientists revealed that NASA’s Curiosity rover had uncovered signs of an ancient freshwater lake on Mars.