December 26, 2008

1,740 years ago
268

Died on this date
Dionysius. Roman Catholic Pope, 259-268. Dionysius succeeded Sixtus II and commenced reorganizing the Roman church, following the persecution under Emperor Valerian I and the edict of toleration by his successor Emperor Gallienus. Pope Dionysius was succeeded by Felix I.

1,590 years ago
418

Died on this date
Zosimus. Roman Catholic Pope, 417-418. Zosimus succeeded Innocent I on March 18, 417. He took part in jurisdictional disputes, and condemned Pelagianism after convening a synod on the issue, but was reported to have a fractious temper, which led to divisions among the clergy. Pope Zosimus was succeeded by Boniface I.

100 years ago
1908

Boxing
Jack Johnson (49-5-10-1-2), who had followed Tommy Burns (42-4-8) around the world in attempting to get a championship match, finally succeeded in wresting the world title away from his much smaller Canadian opponent in a mismatch in Sydney, Australia that was stopped by police in the 14th round. Mr. Johnson, the first Negro to win the championship belt, continually taunted Mr. Burns throughout the fight as he kept the white man at bay. Mr. Johnson's victory outraged white people, including journalist Jack London, who witnessed the spectacle, and immediately called for former champion Jim Jeffries, who had retired to his farm in 1905, to come back and wipe the "golden smile" from Mr. Johnson's face.



60 years ago
1948

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and George Spelvin (Wendell Holmes), on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Blue Carbuncle

Died on this date
Rocco Franceschini, 50. U.S. labour leader. Mr. Franceschini was president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations United Shoe Workers of America, one of the unions currently under investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities, suspected of being dominated by Communists.

Defense
The last Soviet occupation troops left North Korea.

Abominations
Cardinal József Mindszenty was arrested in Hungary and accused of treason and conspiracy.

World events
Jewish immigration to Israel since the end of the British mandate passed 100,000.

Politics and government
A nine-man investing committee of the Social Science Research Council reported in New York that political pollsters "acted in good faith but used poor judgment" during the 1948 U.S. presidential campaign. Pollsters predicted an easy victory for Republican Party candidate Thomas Dewey, and were surprised and embarrassed when President Harry Truman won the election.

50 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): It's Only Make Believe--Conway Twitty (2nd week at #1)

War
Cuban guerrillas captured Cavaiaguan and Sancti Spiritus in their approach from the east to Santa Clara, capital of Las Villas Province.

Journalism
An Associated Press poll of news editors named French President-elect Charles de Gaulle as "man of the year."

Sport
Tennis star Althea Gibson was named the outstanding female athlete in the United States for 1958 in an Associated Press poll of sportswriters and broadcasters, winning the honour for the second straight year.

40 years ago
1968

Terrorism
Arab terrorists fired on an Israeli airliner in Athens, killing one passenger.

Politics and government
The Communist Party of the Philippines was established by Jose Maria Sison, breaking away from the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas-1930.

30 years ago
1978

Hockey
NHL
New York Islanders 5 Toronto 1

25 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): All Night Long (All Night)--Lionel Richie (2nd week at #1)

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Los Angeles Rams 24 @ Dallas 17

20 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Kokomo--The Beach Boys

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You--Glenn Medeiros (6th week at #1)

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Los Angeles Rams 17 @ Minnesota 28

Joey Browner made interceptions to set up touchdowns by Alfred Anderson and Allen Rice in the 1st quarter as the Vikings took a 14-0 lead and coasted to victory over the Rams before 57,666 fans at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis.

10 years ago
1998

War
Iraq announced its intention to fire upon U.S. and U.K. warplanes that patrolled the northern and southern no-fly zones.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 2 Toronto 1