December 1972 - December 25, 1972 (Monday)

December 25, 1972 (Monday)

• An unpublished decree took effect in the U.S.S.R., making it illegal for Soviet residents to meet with foreigners "for the purpose of disseminating false or slanderous information about the Soviet Union", a definition that covered most dissidents.
• Yuri Andropov, the Director of the KGB, recommended that the Soviet Politburo allocate $100,000 in U.S. currency to influence the March parliamentary elections in Chile. The Politburo approved the transfer on February 7, 1973.
• Born: Qu Yunxia, Chinese middle-distance runner; holder of women's 1500 m world record (3:50.46) since 1993
• Died: Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, 94, Indian freedom-fighter; last Governor-General of India (1948–50)