January 2, 2009

Born on this date
Happy birthday, Kathy Fincham!

1,940 years ago
69

World events
The Roman legions in Germania Inferior followed the previous day's lead of those in Germania Superior and refused to swear loyalty to Emperor Galba, but rebelled and proclaimed Vitellius as Emperor.

1,140 years ago
869

Born on this date
Yōzei. Emperor of Japan, 876-884. Yōzei, born Sadaakira, acceded to the throne at the age of 7 upon the abdication of his father Seiwa. Even as a child, Yōzei exhibited an extremely violent disposition. His aunt Fujiwara no Mototsune, who wielded tremendous influence, and imperial advisers forcibly removed Yōzei from power on March 4, 884 in favour of his father's uncle Emperor Kōkō. Yōzei lived in retirement until his death on October 23, 949 at the age of 80.

125 years ago
1884

Born on this date
Oscar Micheaux. U.S. filmmaker and novelist. Mr. Micheaux, who was based in Chicago, was the first Negro American to direct a feature film. The Homesteader (1919) was based on his novel, published two years earlier. Within Our Gates and The Symbol of the Unconquered, both from 1920, seem to be the only films of Mr. Micheaux that still exist. They don't hold up well as films, but they are of historical significance. In 1931 Mr. Micheaux added to his resume when The Exile became the first sound film to be directed by a Negro American. Mr. Micheaux died in 1951 at the age of 67.

Disasters
A railway accident at the Humber River, west of Toronto, claimed 31 lives.

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
John Robert Osborn. U.K.-born Canadian soldier. Company Sergeant Major Osborn of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, leading a bayonet charge against the Japanese on Mount Butler, Hong Kong on December 19, 1941, two weeks before his 43rd birthday, threw himself on a Japanese grenade to save his comrades' lives; he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, becoming the first Canadian so honoured during World War II.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Barry Goldwater. U.S. politician. Mr. Goldwater, a Republican, represented Arizona in the United States Senate from 1953-1965 and 1969-1987. He was the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in 1964, but lost in a landslide to incumbent Lyndon Johnson. Mr. Goldwater was known for many years as "Mr. Conservative," but he was really a libertarian, and spent the last 17 years of his life railing against Christians. He died on May 29, 1998 at the age of 89.

80 years ago
1929

Born on this date
Charles Beaumont. U.S. writer. Mr. Beaumont was a science fiction writer who wrote some of the most memorable episodes of The Twilight Zone, including Perchance to Dream; Shadow Play; and Long Live Walter Jameson. He also wrote the screenplay for the movie Queen of Outer Space (1958). At the age of 34 Mr. Beaumont's health began to decline, and a year later he was diagnosed as having either Alzheimer's Disease or Pick's Disease. He died on February 22, 1967 at the age of 38.

Environment
Representatives of Canada and the United States signed a treaty to preserve Niagara Falls, limiting the daytime diversion of water through their hydroelectric power stations to keep the spectacle for tourists.

Aviation
Canadian World War I ace Wop May took off from Blatchford Field in Edmonton with fellow bush pilot Vic Horner to deliver diphtheria vaccine to Fort Vermilion, Alberta, 411 miles northwest of Edmonton, in order to save lives and prevent an epidemic. It was -20°F (-28°C) with a wind, low ceiling and ice fog, and the pilots made the trip in an open aircraft, with oil burners to keep the vaccine from freezing, arriving the next day at 3 P.M. A crowd of 10,000 greeted the heroes on their return to Edmonton on January 7.

70 years ago
1939

Football
NCAA
Cotton Bowl
St. Mary's 20 Texas Tech 13

Rose Bowl
Southern California 7 Duke 3

Orange Bowl
Tennessee 17 Oklahoma 0

Sugar Bowl
Texas Christian 15 Carnegie Tech 7

60 years ago
1949

Diplomacy
The Vatican rejected a Hungarian government offer to negotiate an agreement on the status of that country's Roman Catholic Church.

Politics and government
Luis Muñoz Marín took office as the first democratically-elected Governor of Puerto Rico.

Sport
An Associated Press poll named the World Series champion Cleveland Indians as the best team in the United States for 1948.

Chess
Reuben Fine won the International Chess Masters tournament in New York.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): It's Only Make Believe--Conway Twitty (3rd week at #1)

Space
Lunik 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, was launched by the U.S.S.R. from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration urged the United States to launch two lunar probes in addition to five already scheduled.

World events
The day after Fidel Castro had taken power in Cuba, 6,000 members of his guerrilla force entered Havana and restored calm. Addressing the nation by radio from Santiago, Mr. Castro designated Manuel Urrutia as provisional President; Mr. Urrutia named Mr. Castro as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Diplomacy
The U.S.A. renewed its protest against a recent attack on a U.S. plane by Soviet jets over the Baltic Sea.

Business
U.S. Attorney General William Rogers announced that General Motors had agreed to repay the U.S. government $4.9 million to settle claims arising from a 1952 Air Force contract for the production of F-84F Thunderstreak jet planes.

40 years ago
1969

On television tonight
Dragnet 1969, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Community Relations: DR-17



War
Israeli forces concluded two days of clashes in Lebanon against Lebanese troops and Arab guerrillas, in the wake of the recent Israeli commando raid on Beirut's airport.

Politics and government
Major Marien N'Gouabi was appointed President of the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), and promised a presidential election later in the year.

Stefan Sadovsky took office as Premier of the new Slovak Socialist Republic.

Terrorism
FLQ bombs were discovered in Ottawa.

Business
Australian media magnate Rupert Murdoch beat off a rival bid to win control of the London-based News of the World newspaper group; it was his first Fleet Street newspaper acquisition.

Disasters
8 people were killed and 27 injured when two carbonic acid tanks exploded in a factory in Recelak, Hungary.

A fire in a tenement in Montreal killed seven people.

Boxing
Ken Buchanan (29-0) won a 10-round decision over Frankie Narvaez (36-10-1) in a lightweight bout at the National Sporting Club in Picadilly, London.

30 years ago
1979

Hockey
NHL-U.S.S.R. exhibition
Super Series '79
Soviet Wings 4 @ Philadelphia 4

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): All Night Long (All Night)--Lionel Richie (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Karma Chameleon--Culture Club (3rd week at #1)

War
France announced that she would remove 482 troops from the international peacekeeping force in Beirut and would rejoin the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.

Diplomacy
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the 1984 Democratic party nomination for President of the United States who was in Syria in an attempt to win the freedom of U.S. Navy Lieutenant Robert Goodman, who had been shot down near Beirut on December 4, met with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Kokomo--The Beach Boys (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You--Glenn Medeiros (7th week at #1)

Football
NCAA
Cotton Bowl
California @ Los Angeles 17 Arkansas 3

Rose Bowl
Michigan 22 Southern California 14

Orange Bowl
University of Miami 23 Nebraska 3

Sugar Bowl
Florida State 13 Auburn 7

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Shepard Menken, 77. U.S. actor. Mr. Menken appeared in minor roles in the 1950s and '60s, but was best known as a voice actor in cartoons and commercials.

Disasters
68 deaths were reported as the result of a brutal snowstorm that smashed into the Midwestern United States, causing 14 inches of snow in Milwaukee and 19 inches in Chicago, where temperatures plunged to -13 °F (-25 °C).

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card Playoff
Buffalo 17 @ Miami 24

A last-minute drive led by Buffalo quarterback Doug Flutie ended when he fumbled while being sacked by Trace Armstrong, and Shane Burton recovered at the Miami 5-yard line with 17 seconds remaining in regulation time to preserve the Dolphins' victory over the Bills before 72,698 fans at ProPlayer Stadium. Dan Marino's 11-yard touchdown pass to Lamar Thomas with 3:42 remaining proved to be the deciding score. Mr. Flutie responded by leading the Bills downfield, and passed to Andre Reed at the Miami 1-yard line; Mr. Reed, insisting he had made it into the end zone, argued with the official who disagreed and was ejected from the game, with Buffalo receiving a 15-yard penalty. The Bills had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Steve Christie with 1:47 remaining to make the score 24-17. Buffalo then recovered a short kickoff and marched downfield until the Miami defense forced Mr. Flutie's fumble. Miami receiver Eric Moulds set a playoff record with 240 yards receiving, including a 32-yard touchdown reception.

NFC Wild Card Playoff
Arizona 20 @ Dallas 7

Jake Plummer passed for 213 yards and touchdowns to Adrian Murrell and Larry Centers to lead the Cardinals over the Cowboys before 62,969 fans at Texas Stadium in Irving. It was their first post-season win since the then-Chicago Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to win the 1947 NFL championship.