This Day in History for December 8 — John Lennon Killed, and More

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1863: President Abraham Lincoln offers his conciliatory plan for reunification of the United States with his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (more info)

1980: Music icon John Lennon is murdered by a mentally unstable fan in front of the Dakota apartment building in New York City (more info)

1987: President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sign the first treaty between the two superpowers to reduce their massive nuclear arsenals (more info)

1941: In perhaps the most memorable speech of his career, President Franklin Roosevelt asks Congress to declare war on Japan (more info)

1993: The North American Free Trade Agreement is signed into law by President Bill Clinton (more info)