March 18, 2008

580 years ago
1438

Europeana
Albert the Magnanimous, King of Hungary and Croatia, was chosen "King of the Romans" at Frankfurt, becoming King Albert II of Germany.

150 years ago
1858

Politics and government
Jan Jacob Rochussen, Conservative, took office as Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

70 years ago
1938

Oil
Mexico nationalized all foreign-owned oil properties within its borders.

Baseball
The Washington Nationals traded first baseman Joe Kuhel to the Chicago White Sox for first baseman Zeke Bonura. Mr. Kuhel, who spent 8 seasons in Washington, hit .283 with 6 home runs and 61 runs batted in in 1937, while Mr. Bonura, in his fourth season with the White Sox, had batted .345 with 19 home runs and 100 RBIs in 116 games in 1937. Mr. Kuhel was regarded as a much better defensive first baseman than Mr. Bonura.
40 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Koi no Shizuku--Yukari Itō (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Soul Finger--The Bar-Kays

30 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Gianna--Rino Gaetano (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Mull of Kintyre--Wings (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Wuthering Heights--Kate Bush

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Wuthering Heights--Kate Bush (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Night Fever--Bee Gees

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Denis--Blondie
2 Big City--Tol Hansse
3 She's Not There--Santana
4 Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees
5 If I Had Words--Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley with the St. Thomas More School Choir
6 I Can't Stand the Rain--Eruption featuring Precious Wilson
7 Red Hot--Robert Gordon with Link Wray
8 Only a Fool--The Mighty Sparrow with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
9 Fantasy--Earth, Wind & Fire
10 Wuthering Heights--Kate Bush

Singles entering the chart were Argentina by Conquistador (#21); Jack and Jill by Raydio (#27); Spaceman by Bolland & Bolland (#29); Same Old Song by Pussycat (#33); and Winter Song by Angel with the California Boys Choir (#34).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Night Fever--Bee Gees
2 Emotion--Samantha Sang
3 (Love Is) Thicker than Water--Andy Gibb
4 Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees
5 Lay Down Sally--Eric Clapton
6 Sometimes When We Touch--Dan Hill
7 Can't Smile Without You--Barry Manilow
8 I Go Crazy--Paul Davis
9 What's Your Name--Lynyrd Skynyrd
10 Thunder Island--Jay Ferguson

Singles entering the chart were Two Doors Down by Dolly Parton (#75); On Broadway by George Benson (#80); Don't Cost You Nothing by Ashford & Simpson (#82); Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) by Billy Joel (#83); Too Much, Too Little, Too Late by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams (#84); Dance with Me by Peter Brown with Betty Wright (#90); Kings and Queens by Aerosmith (#91); (Any Way that You Want It) I'll Be There by Starz (#96); Am I Losing You by the Manhattans (#97); Never Get Enough of Your Love by L.T.D. (#98); and Do I Love You (Yes in Every Way) by Donna Fargo (#99).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Sometimes When We Touch--Dan Hill
2 (Love Is) Thicker than Water--Andy Gibb
3 Emotion--Samantha Sang
4 Just the Way You Are--Billy Joel
5 Stayin' Alive--Bee Gees
6 What's Your Name--Styx
7 Peg--Steely Dan
8 I Go Crazy--Paul Davis
9 Night Fever--Bee Gees
10 Lay Down Sally--Eric Clapton

Singles entering the chart were Count on Me by Jefferson Starship (#83); Rocket Ride by Kiss (#85); Like I've Never Been Gone by Fran McKendree (#93); Let's All Chant by the Michael Zager Band (#98); Your Love is So Good for Me by Diana Ross (#99); and It Amazes Me by John Denver (#100).

World events
In Pakistan, former President and Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death for conspiracy to murder a political opponent, Ahmed Raza Kasuri, three years earlier. In 1974, Mr. Kasuri's family had been ambushed, and Mr. Kasuri's father, Nawab Mohammad Ahmad Khan, had been killed. The younger Kasuri insisted that he had been the real target. The trial and verdict were heavily criticized amid accusations of bias and manufactured evidence.

Hockey
In the national Hockey Night in Canada game, the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 at Maple Leaf Gardens. The Penguins' first goal was scored by former Boston Bruins' star Derek Sanderson, attempting a comeback after several years of decline.

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Tell it to My Heart--Taylor Dayne (3rd week at #1)

Died on this date
Billy Butterfield, 71. U.S. musician. Mr. Butterfield was a jazz trumpeter who performed with a number of big bands, including those of Bob Crosby, Artie Shaw, Les Brown, and Benny Goodman.

Economics and finance
The Dow Jones industrial average closed at 2087.37, the highest level since the collapse of stock prices on October 19, 1987.

10 years ago
1998

Religion
Regional bodies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted to maintain a ban on sodomite clergy. They voted against replacing existing law with a broader one that would be open to individual interpretation.