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December 20, 1946

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Headlines from December 20, 1946

TRUMAN SETS ASIDE SHIPS FOR REFUGEES; Makes 4 Available to Speed Entry--Criticizes Lag in Handling Immigration TRUMAN SETS ASIDE SHIPS FOR REFUGEES

By Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES

Pres Truman voices dissatisfaction with handling of immigration of DPs and refugees; cites small number of arrivals since Dec, '45, directive; announces agreement with Maritime Comm providing 4 ships to be made available for speedier transfer of refugees from Eur; says many await transportation who have US visas

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Notable Births

Uri Geller

1946Uri Geller, Israeli-English magician and psychic[†]

Uri Geller is an Israeli-British illusionist, magician, television personality, and self-proclaimed psychic. He is known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other illusions. Geller uses conjuring tricks to simulate the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy. Geller's career as an entertainer has spanned more than four decades, with television shows and appearances in many countries. Magicians have called Geller a fraud because of his claims of possessing psychic powers.

Bill Hosket Jr.

1946Bill Hosket Jr., American basketball player[†]

Wilmer Frederick Hosket is an American former professional basketball player. He played five seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Sonny Perdue

1946Sonny Perdue, American politician, 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture, 81st Governor of Georgia[†]

George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III is an American politician, veterinarian, and businessman who served as the 31st United States secretary of agriculture from 2017 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 81st governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011 and as a member of the Georgia State Senate from 1991 to 2002.

Dick Wolf

1946Dick Wolf, American director, producer, and screenwriter[†]

Richard Anthony Wolf is an American television producer, best known for his Law & Order franchise. Since 1990, the franchise has included six police/courtroom dramas and four international spinoffs. He is also co-creator and executive producer of the Chicago franchise, which since 2012, has included four Chicago-based dramas and the co-creator and executive producer of the FBI franchise, which since 2018, has also become a franchise after spinning off two additional series.

Historical Events

It's a Wonderful Life

1946It's a Wonderful Life premieres at the Globe Theatre in New York to mixed reviews.[†]

It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film directed and produced by Frank Capra. It is based on the short story and booklet "The Greatest Gift", self-published by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1943, which itself is loosely based on the 1843 Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol.

1946 Nankai earthquake

1946An earthquake in Nankaidō, Japan causes a tsunami which kills at least one thousand people and destroys 36,000 homes.[†]

The 1946 Nankai earthquake was a great earthquake in Nankaidō, Japan. It occurred on December 21, 1946, at 04:19 JST. The earthquake measured between 8.1 and 8.4 on the moment magnitude scale, and was felt from Northern Honshū to Kyūshū. It occurred almost two years after the 1944 Tōnankai earthquake, which ruptured the adjacent part of the Nankai megathrust.