January 6, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Sherlock Holmes, Sheila Hellevang, and Johanna Wegner!

560 years ago
1449

Europeana
Constantine XI was crowned Byzantine Emperor at Mystras.

250 years ago
1759

Married on this date
Future U.S. President George Washington and Martha Dandridge Custis were married at the White House Plantation in Virginia.

200 years ago
1809

War
Combined British, Portuguese and colonial Brazilian forces began the Invasion of Cayenne during the Napoleonic Wars.

170 years ago
1839

Disasters
The Night of the Big Wind, the most damaging storm in 300 years, swept across Ireland, damaging or destroying more than 20% of the houses in Dublin.

130 years ago
1879

Born on this date
Joseph Medill Patterson. U.S. journalist. Mr. Patterson was a reporter with the Chicago Tribune before founding the New York Daily News in 1919, the first daily tabloid in the United States. He died on May 26, 1946 at the age of 67.

Academia
Laval University opened a campus in Montreal; it became today's Université de Montréal.

90 years ago
1919

Died on this date
Theodore Roosevelt, 60. 26th President of the United States of America, 1901-1909; Vice President of the United States, 1901. Mr. Roosevelt, a Republican, served as Governor of New York before being selected as William McKinley's running mate in the presidential election of 1900. Mr. Roosevelt had been Vice President for just 6 months before Mr. McKinley was assassinated in September 1901. Mr. Roosevelt became President at the age of 42, the youngest chief executive in American history. Known as a "trust-buster" and conservationist, Mr. Roosevelt easily won the election of 1904, and left the White House in 1909 after serving nearly two full terms. He was very critical of his successor, fellow Republican William Howard Taft, and ran against the incumbent in 1912. He ran under the label of the Progressive Party, better known as the "Bull Moose" Party after Mr. Roosevelt declared that he was as fit as a bull moose. This fitness stood him in good stead when he was hit by a bullet from a would-be assassin during the campaign. The former President survived and continued his campaign, easily polling more votes than Mr. Taft, but not enough to defeat Democratic nominee Woodrow Wilson. Mr. Roosevelt was a consistent critic of Mr. Wilson's administration, particularly in the area of foreign affairs and military preparedness. His 1916 book Fear God and Take Your Own Part was an effective critique of what he regarded as the Wilson administration's pacifistic and anti-preparedness attitude. Mr. Roosevelt was a man of many interests. He became famous leading his troops, known as the Rough Riders, in the charge up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War in 1898. His book about the experience, appropriately titled The Rough Riders, was published in 1899, and was an instant hit with the public. It seems hard to believe in this age of professional speechwriters and sound bites, but there was a time when politicians actually wrote their own speeches, and in the case of Theodore Roosevelt, their own books. Mr. Roosevelt's skills as a historian were strong enough to win him another presidency: that of the American Historical Association. He was heartbroken by the death of his 20-year-old son Quentin in World War I in July, 1918, and was suffering from the lingering effects of malaria when he died in his sleep.

World events
Openly encouraged by Bolshevik Russian Ambassador to Germany Karl Radek, Communist shock troops in armoured cars attempted to storm the Chancellery in Berlin, while more than 100,000 supporters and sympathizers milled around in Unter den Linden. Detachments of shock troops occupied the Brandenburger Tor, government printing offices, railway stations, and a number of barracks. 300 Communists invaded the German War Office itself, and Communist leader Karl Liebknecht proclaimed a provisional German government.

80 years ago
1929

Politics and government
King Alexander of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes suspended his country's constitution in what became known as the January 6th Dictatorship.

Religion
Albanian Roman Catholic nun Mother Teresa arrived in Calcutta to begin her work among India's poorest and sick people.

70 years ago
1939

Died on this date
Gustavs Zemgals, 67. 2nd President of Latvia, 1927-1930. Mr. Zemgals, a member of the Democratic Centre Party, was an army captain and journalist before entering politics. He chaired the meeting on November 18, 1918 that declared the independence of Latvia. As President, Mr. Zemgals used his office to grant amnesties to 648 people. He was Latvia's Finance Minister from 1931-1932.

60 years ago
1949

Died on this date
Victor Fleming, 59. U.S. movie director. Mr. Fleming directed two of 1939's best movies, The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind, winning the Academy Award for Best Director for the latter. He died of a heart attack.

War
U.S. Congressional investigator William Bullitt reported to the Joint Congressional Committee on Foreign Cooperation that only direct U.S. intervention in the Chinese civil war and $800 million in military aid per year could save the Nationalist government. United Nations Secretary-General Trygve Lie refused to support Nationalist requests for UN intervention in China.

Politics and government
General Nuri as-Said, a supporter of Transjordanian King Abdullah's claim to sovereignty over Arab Palestine, became Prime Minister of Iraq.

Technology
The U.S. National Bureau of Standards reported the development of an "atomic clock" so accurate that it would take three million years to gain or lose a second.

Sport
An Associated Press poll of sportswriters named Cleveland Indians' manager and shortstop Lou Boudreau, who had led his team to the World Series championship, as the best male athlete of 1948. Dutch track star Fanny Blankers-Koen, who had won three gold medals at the Summer Olympic Games in London, was named the best female athlete.

50 years ago
1959

War
Belgian paratroopers were flown to Leopoldville to aid in the restoration of order following three days of nationalist rioting. European civilians were armed to protect white areas of the Belgian Congolese capital.

Diplomacy
Philippine President Carlos Garcia and Malayan Prime Minister Tengku Abdul Rahman signed a joint communique in Manila pleging bilateral economic and cultural accords to form the nucleus of a regional plan for Southeast Asian cooperation.

U.S.S.R. First Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan met in Washington with U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon, indicating that the Soviet Union supported "exchanges at all levels" with the United States.

Politics and government
Cuban provisional President Manuel Urrutia dissolved both houses of Congress and removed all provincial governors, mayors, and aldermen.

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives re-elected Rep. Sam Rayburn (Texas) as Speaker of the House, and Rep. John McCormack (Massachusetts) as floor leader, while the House Republican Party caucus elected Rep. Charles Halleck (Indiana) as minority leader, ending the 20-year hold of Rep. Joseph Martin (Massachusetts) on the position.

Americana
The U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce announced its awards to 10 outstanding young men of 1958, including singer Pat Boone, Nautilus navigator Lieutenant Shepherd Jencks, and Harvard University political scientist Henry Kissinger.

Health
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences Committee on Pathological Effects of Atomic Radiation proposed a 20-year study on the effects of natural radiation on man.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Koi no Kisetsu--Pinky and the Killers (15th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Those were the Days--Mary Hopkin (5th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Wichita Lineman--Glen Campbell (3rd week at #1)
2 I Love How You Love Me--Bobby Vinton
3 Cinnamon--Derek
4 Stormy--Classics IV
5 Going Up the Country--Canned Heat
6 I'm Gonna Make You Love Me--Diana Ross and the Supremes & the Temptations
7 Hooked on a Feeling--B.J. Thomas
8 Soulful Strut--Young-Holt Unlimited
9 I Heard it Through the Grapevine--Marvin Gaye
10 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees

Singles entering the chart were Goodnight My Love by Paul Anka (#69); Things I'd Like to Say by the New Colony Six (#82); The Thought of Loving You by Crystal Mansion (#86); I'm Into Lookin' for Someone to Love Me by Bobby Vee (#89); Games People Play by Joe South (#91); Baby, Baby Don't Cry by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (#92); Long Line Rider by Bobby Darin (#93); May I by Bill Deal & the Rhondels (#94); Poor Side of Town by Al Wilson (#95); Daddy Sang Bass by Johnny Cash (#97); Will You Be Staying After Sunday by Peppermint Rainbow (#98); I Can't Help It (If I’m Still in Love with You) by Al Martino (#99); and Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) by the Banana Splits (#100).

Died on this date
Le Minh Tri, 43. S.V. politician. Mr. Tri, South Vietnam's Education Minister, was assassinated by a grenade that was thrown into his car.

War
In major sweeps by U.S. and South Vietnamese forces, large cashes of enemy arms were found on a Viet Cong supply route west of Saigon.

Politics and government
Bidding an informal farewell to the United States Congress at a Congressional reception, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson said, "I don't have any patience with all these people telling us what's wrong with Congress, what's wrong with the Supreme Court, what's wrong with this country--we've got the best darned country in the world."

Academia
After being closed for three weeks and facing the pressure of a teachers' strike, San Francisco State College reopened.

Disasters
An Allegheny Airlines Propjet crashed as it tried to land during a light snow at the Bradford, Pennsylvania airport, killing 11 people and injuring one of 17 survivors.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Three Little Words (I Love You)--Dave Loggins

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Una donna per amico--Lucio Battisti (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord--Boney M (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Y.M.C.A.--Village People

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Cash Box): Le Freak--Chic (4th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Paradise by the Dashboard Light--Meat Loaf (2nd week at #1)
2 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
3 Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord--Boney M.
4 Trojan Horse--Luv'
5 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
6 A Little More Love--Olivia
7 Please Come Home for Christmas--Eagles
8 Giving Up, Giving In--The Three Degrees
9 Stumblin' In--Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman
10 Blame it on the Boogie--The Jacksons

Singles entering the chart were Song for Guy by Elton John (#23); You Don't Wanna Look Back by Peter Tosh (support vocals: Mick Jagger) (#27); Accident Prone by Status Quo (#29); I'll Put You Together Again by Hot Chocolate (#31); I'm Every Woman by Chaka (#32); and Instant Replay by Dan Hartman (#33).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees
2 Le Freak--Chic
3 My Life--Billy Joel
4 You Don't Bring Me Flowers--Barbra & Neil
5 I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'round)--Alicia Bridges
6 Sharing the Night Together--Dr. Hook
7 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
8 Hold the Line--Toto
9 (Our Love) Don't Throw It All Away--Andy Gibb
10 Ooh Baby Baby--Linda Ronstadt

Singles entering the chart were The Football Card by Glenn Sutton (#70); Sing for the Day by Styx (#75); Stormy by Santana (#76); Every Time I Think of You by the Babys (#80); Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet by Gonzalez (#84); Get Down by Gene Chandler (#85); I Don't Know if it's Right by Evelyn "Champagne" King (#86); Need You Bad by Ted Nugent (#87); and Lady by Little River Band (#88).

Diplomacy
Meeting on the island of Guadeloupe, leaders of the U.S.A., U.K., France, and West Germany assured the U.S.S.R,. that the establishment of relations between the U.S.A. and China did not lessen the West's commitment to detente. More than 16 hours of discussions occurred at the meeting. U.K. Prime Minister James Callaghan and W.G. Chancellor Helmut Schmidt specifically endorsed the projected Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) II accord.

Politics and government
A new civilian government was formed in Iran, headed by Prime Minister Shahpur Bakhtiar.

Protest
100,000 people took to the streets in Qom, Iran to demonstrate against the new government of Prime Minister Bakhtiar.

Hockey
NHL
Chicago 5 @ Toronto 3

Football
CIAU-NCAA
Can-Am Bowl @ Tampa Stadium
U.S.A. 34 Canada 14

Dave Marler of Mississippi State University completed 19 of 25 passes for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the American team over the Canadian team to win the Air Canada Trophy for the second straight year in a game played under Canadian rules. Martin Cox of Vanderbilt University, who went on to a Canadian Football League career as a receiver with the Ottawa Rough Riders, Toronto Argonauts, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, caught 8 passes for 152 yards, including touchdowns of 34 and 36 yards, and was named the Most Valuable Player in the game. Mr. Marler's first TD pass was to Tony Stephens of the University of Florida. Dave Rader of the University of Tulsa relieved Mr. Marler and completed a touchdown pass to Furman University tight end Greg Laetsch, while Ira Matthews of the University of Wisconsin returned a punt 58 yards for the other American TD. Berj Yepremian of Florida converted 4 of the American TDs. Wilfrid Laurier University fullback Jim Reid scored the first Canadian touchdown on a 14-yard pass from University of Western Ontario quarterback Jamie Bone in the 1st quarter, converted by WLU's Jerry Gulyes. Mr. Bone rushed 1 yard for the other Canadian TD late in the game. Acadia University's Bob Cameron, who punted 11 times for a 41-yard average, added a single, although he was disappointed that he didn't get to play quarterback. Mr. Bone split the Canadian quarterbacking duties with Dan Smith of the University of British Columbia, but the Canadians mustered only 8 first downs and 144 yards in net offence. The Americans, who emphasized the rushing game in the 2nd half in order not to embarrass their opponents, made 26 first downs and 386 yards in net offence. Mr. Bone completed 13 of 23 passes for 152 yards and an interception, while Mr. Smith was 1 for 2 for 3 yards and an interception. Mr. Matthews led all rushers with 9 carries for 41 yards; James Boyd of St. Mary's University led Canadian rushers with 6 carries for 29 yards. Bob O'Doherty of Queen's University led Canadian receivers with 62 yards on 3 receptions. The crowd was announced at 11,033, but was said to be closer to 8,000 in the 70,000-seat Tampa Stadium on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The poor attendance helped to kill the event after just two years; nonetheless, the Can-Am Bowls of 1978 and 1979 helped to showcase a number of players who went on to CFL careers (and a few who played in the NFL).

NCAA
Shrine Game
East 56 West 17

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Uptown Girl--Billy Joel (5th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Jenseits von Eden--Nino de Angelo (2nd week at #1)

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate had declined to 8.1% in December 1983.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Don't Worry Be Happy--Bobby McFerrin (10th week at #1)

Died on this date
Kehar Singh, 53; Satwant Singh, 26. Indian assassins. Messrs. Kehar Singh and Satwant Singh were executed by hanging in Tihar Jail the day they were convicted of conspiracy in the October 31, 1984 assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The two were bodyguards of Mrs. Gandhi when they shot her to death on October 31, 1984; a third conspirator, Beant Singh, was gunned down by Border Police officers at the scene.

Personal
This blogger, with other members of the CPR Stockholders of Edmonton, attended the Blue Carbuncle/Sherlock Holmes birthday party at the Sherlock Holmes pub at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, and won the quiz that was a regular part of such gatherings.

Scandal
Hazeltine Corporation and three men--two former executives and a Teledyne Industries lobbyist--pled guilty to various conspiracy charges related to the U.S. Defense Department procurement scandal, and agreed to cooperate with the investigation, which had come to light in June 1988. Teledyne Industries and six individuals were indicted by a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia. The men indicted included a U.S. Navy procurement specialist, two private consultants, and three employees of Teledyne. Charges filed against one or more of them included bribery conspiracy, racketeering, theft of government property, making false statements, and conspiracy to defraud the United States government. Teledyne was indicted for allegedly paying $160,000 for confidential government information.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that unemployment stood at 5.3% at the end of 1988, a 14-year low.