Ten years ago: Michael Mukasey took a ceremonial oath as the new U.S. Attorney General, five days after he was privately sworn in. A justice of the peace in Las Vegas ordered O.J. Simpson to stand trial on kidnapping and armed robbery charges stemming from a confrontation with memorabilia dealers in a casino hotel room. (Simpson was convicted and served nine years in prison before being paroled in Sept. 2017.) The prime ministers of North and South Korea launched their first talks in 15 years.
Five years ago: President Barack Obama, in his first news conference since winning a second term, challenged congressional Republicans to let taxes rise on the wealthiest Americans, saying that would ease the threat of another recession as the nation faced a "fiscal cliff." Israel said it had killed the leader of Hamas' military wing in a wave of airstrikes launched in response to days of rocket fire out of Hamas-ruled Gaza. Baseball's Cy Young Awards went to Tampa Bay's David Price in the American League and R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets in the National League.
One year ago: In his first extended remarks on the election, President Barack Obama abandoned his dire warnings and dark predictions about his newly elected successor and urged Americans to give President-elect Donald Trump time to rise to the daunting responsibilities of the office. Corey Seager of the Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League Rookie of the Year award unanimously and Detroit's Michael Fulmer took the American League honor. Gwen Ifill, co-anchor of PBS' "NewsHour," died in Washington at age 61. Country singer Holly Dunn, 59, died in Albuquerque, New Mexico.