On This Day - December 14, 2026

The first trans-pacific cable line is completed by the Commercial Cable Company. It connected San Francisco, CA to Honolulu, HI.

Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" is #1 on the music charts. Interestingly, several other artists recorded the song, too. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles recorded the song in 1966. However, it wasn't released until 1968, the same year as Marvin Gaye's version. Others who have recorded the song include Gladys Knight & the Pips and Creedence Clearwater Revival. The song was written by Barret Strong and Norman Whitfield.

Pilots Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager take off from Edwards Air Force Base in Voyager. Burt Rutan designed the honeycombed, lightweight aircraft from composite materials. The design allowed the plane to carry more fuel. As a result, the pilots completed the nonstop flight around the world without refueling in 9 days. December 14th Celebrated (And Not So Celebrated) Birthdays