Today in History - Dec. 23

Today is Sunday, Dec. 23, the 357th day of 2007. There are eight days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Dec. 23, 1823, the poem ''Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas'' was published anonymously in the Troy (New York) Sentinel; the verse, more popularly known as '''Twas the Night Before Christmas,'' was later widely attributed to Clement C. Moore.

On this date:

In 1783, George Washington resigned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and retired to his home at Mount Vernon, Va.

In 1805, Joseph Smith Jr., principal founder of the Mormon religious movement, was born in Sharon, Vt.

In 1893, the Engelbert Humperdinck opera ''Haensel und Gretel'' was first performed, in Weimar, Germany.

In 1947, scientists at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey demonstrated their just-invented point-contact transistor, which paved the way to a new era of miniaturized electronics.

In 1967, President Johnson, on his way home from a visit to Southeast Asia, held an unprecedented meeting with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican.

In 1968, 82 crew members of the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo were released by North Korea, 11 months after they had been captured.

In 1986, the experimental airplane Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, completed the first nonstop, non-refueled, round-the-world flight as it landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Ten years ago: Woody Allen married Soon-Yi Previn in a small ceremony in Venice, Italy.

Five years ago: Senate Republicans unanimously elected Bill Frist to succeed Trent Lott as their leader in the next Congress.

One year ago: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held the first Israeli-Palestinian summit in 22 months.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Gerald S. O'Loughlin is 86. Actor Ronnie Schell is 76. Emperor Akihito of Japan is 74. Actor Frederic Forrest is 71. Actor James Stacy is 71. Rock musician Jorma Kaukonen is 67. Rock musician Ron Bushy is 66. Actor-comedian Harry Shearer is 64. Actress Susan Lucci is 61. Singer-musician Adrian Belew is 58. Rock musician Dave Murray (Iron Maiden) is 51. Actress Joan Severance is 49. Singer Terry Weeks is 44. Rock singer Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) is 43. Actor Corey Haim is 36. Rock musician Jamie Murphy is 32. Actress Estella Warren is 29.

Thought for Today: ''Christmas is the season when you buy this year's gifts with next year's money.'' — Anonymous.