1870    The Christian holiday of Christmas is declared a federal holiday in the United States.

1942    Bing Crosby, the Ken Darby Singers and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra record Irving Berlin's "White Christmas", the best-selling Christmas single in history, for Decca Records in Los Angeles.

1970    Vietnam War: US President Richard Nixon announces that the United States will withdraw 40,000 more troops before Christmas

1972    Vietnam War: President Richard Nixon announces that the United States will engage North Vietnam in Operation Linebacker II, a series of Christmas bombings, after peace talks collapsed with North Vietnam on the 13th.