March 1, 2009

210 years ago
1809

Economics and finance
U.S. President Thomas Jefferson signed the Non-Intercourse Act (1809), forbidding Americans to trade with Great Britain or France. It replaced the Embargo Act of 1807.

140 years ago
1869

Science
Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev finished his design of the first periodic table and sent it for publication.

110 years ago
1899

Canadiana
Revelstoke, British Columbia was incorporated as a city.

Hockey
CAHL
Montreal Victorias (5-2) 0 @ Montreal Shamrocks (6-1) 1

Harry Trihey scored the only goal as the Shamrocks edged the Victorias before 8,000 fans at Montreal Arena.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Eugene Esmonde. U.K. military aviator. Lieutenant-Commander Esmonde flew with the Royal Air Force from 1928 until his death on February 12, 1942, 17 days before his 33rd birthday, when he was shot down while leading an attack on the German cruisers Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen, which were attempting to return to their home base from Brest through the English Channel. Lt.-Cdr. Esmonde was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his action.

Winston Sharples. U.S. musician and composer. Mr. Sharples was a pianist and bandleader in the 1920s, but was best known for composing music for more than 700 cartoons for Paramount and Famous Studios from the 1930s through the 1960s. He died on April 3, 1978 at the age of 69.

90 years ago
1919

Protest
The March 1st Movement of resistance to Japanese rule in Korea began with a demonstration in Seoul. Within six weeks, 2 million Koreans had participated in 1,500 demonstrations, with thousands killed by Japanese police.

Politics and government
Jorge Meléndez of the National Democratic Party took office as President of El Salvador.

Hockey
Stanley Cup
NHL
Finals
Ottawa 3 @ Montreal 6 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Newsy Lalonde scored 5 goals to lead the Canadiens over the Senators at Jubilee Arena. Punch Broadbent scored twice for Ottawa.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
Royal Hurlburt Weller, 47. U.S. politician. Mr. Weller, a Democrat, represented New York's 21st District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1923 until his death.

75 years ago
1934

Boxing
Primo Carnera (78-6) retained his world heavyweight title with a 15-round decision over Tommy Loughran (78-17-5-2) before 12,000 fans at Madison Square Garden Stadium in Miami.



70 years ago
1939

Transportation
In Montreal, Canadian Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce C. D. Howe opened the first Trans-Canada Air Lines transcontinental passenger service from Montreal to Vancouver.

Disasters
A Japanese Imperial Army ammunition dump exploded at Hirakata, Osaka, Japan, killing 94.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis, on MBS

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Revenge, starring Eddie Albert and Margo

War
The Indonesian Army recaptured Jakarta from Dutch forces and occupied it for six hours.

Israel opened direct armistice negotiations with Lebanon in the frontier town of Ras en Naqura.

Politics and government
The Hoover Committee on Reorganization of the Executive Branch ended its last session in Washington after completing work on 18 reports intended to cut government costs, define lines of authority in the executive branch, and free important officials from matters of minor detail.

Society
The U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate a measure ending the ban on the naturalization of resident Asians.

Television
American Telephone & Telegraph announced plans to add 13 cities to the Eastern-Midwestern network during the coming year.

Boxing
World heavyweight champion Joe Louis, 34, who had held the title for almost 12 years, announced his retirement from boxing to become a director of a new fight promotion syndicate. He came out of retirement later in the year, in order to make money to pay back taxes.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): Guitare et tambourin--Dalida (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Relative Value, starring Denholm Elliott, Torin Thatcher, and Tom Conway

World events
British Governor Hugh Foot and 150,000 Greek Cypriots welcomed Archbishop Makarios upon his return to Cyprus from a three-year exile.

Diplomacy
South Korean President Syngman Rhee offered to accept all Koreans "forcibly taken" to Japan during World War II provided that Japan compensated them prior to repatriation.

Politics and government
The Nationalist Party assumed power in Uruguay, after 93 years of rule by the Colorado Party.

Crime
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation disclosed that major crimes in the United States had risen 8% in 1958, with a 10% increase occurring in smaller communities.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Eloise--Barry Ryan with the Majority (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France: Casatchok--Dimitri Dourakine and his Orchestra (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Zingara--Bobby Solo (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Beatles

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Lonely Woods of Upton--Sean Dunphy (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): If Paradise Is Half as Nice--Amen Corner

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Atlantis--Donovan
2 Spooky's Day Off--Swinging Soul Machine
3 Ain't Got No--I Got Life--Nina Simone
4 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells
5 Ring of Fire--Eric Burdon and the Animals
6 Hair--Zen
7 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Beatles
8 Albatross--Fleetwood Mac
9 Keep in Touch--The Free
10 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees

Singles entering the chart were Love is Love by Barry Ryan (#24); The Way it Used to Be by Engelbert Humperdinck (#30); Muny, Muny, Muny by Daisy Clan (#32); Down Man by Brainbox (#37); Frank Mills by Shelley Plimpton (#38); All the Love in the World by Consortium (#39); and If Paradise is Half as Nice by Amen Corner (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Everyday People--Sly & the Family Stone (3rd week at #1)
2 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells
3 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
4 Touch Me--The Doors
5 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 You Showed Me--The Turtles
7 This Magic Moment--Jay and the Americans
8 Baby, Baby Don't Cry--Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
9 Worst that Could Happen--Brooklyn Bridge
10 Dizzy--Tommy Roe

Singles entering the chart were Rock Me by Steppenwolf (#63); Who's Making Love by Young-Holt Unlimited (#64); When He Touches Me (Nothing Else Matters) by Peaches and Herb (#65); Only the Strong Survive by Jerry Butler (#70); A Lover's Question by Otis Redding (#71); Galveston by Glen Campbell (#87); Don't Forget About Me by Dusty Springfield (#88); Snatching it Back by Clarence Carter (#90); Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' by Crazy Elephant (#94); You've Made Me So Very Happy by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#95); Sweeter than Sugar by Ohio Express (#96); Day After Day (It's Slippin' Away) by Shango (#97); Give it Away by the Chi-Lites (#99); and The Way it Used to Be by Engelbert Humperdinck (#100).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
2 Everyday People--Sly & the Family Stone
3 Touch Me--The Doors
4 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells
5 You Showed Me--The Turtles
6 This Magic Moment--Jay and the Americans
7 Can I Change My Mind--Tyrone Davis
8 I'm Livin' in Shame--Diana Ross and the Supremes
9 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
10 Games People Play--Joe South

Singles entering the chart were Rock Me by Steppenwolf (#58); Galveston by Glen Campbell (#62); These are Not My People by Johnny Rivers (#65); Long Green by the Fireballs (#82); I Didn't Know What Time it Was by Ray Charles (#83); Don't Forget About Me by Dusty Springfield (#84); You've Made Me So Very Happy by Blood, Sweat & Tears (#87); Only the Strong Survive by Jerry Butler (#88); Hallways of My Mind by the Dells (#89); The Way it Used to Be by Engelbert Humperdinck (#92); Goodbye Columbus by the Association (#95); Gentle on My Mind by Dean Martin (#97); No, Not Much by the Vogues (#98); Day After Day (It's Slippin' Away) by Shango (#99); and Only You (And You Alone) by Bobby Hatfield (#100). Goodbye Columbus was the title song of the movie.

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Condition Red--The Goodees
2 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
3 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells
4 Star Crossed Lovers--Neil Sedaka
5 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
6 Touch Me--The Doors
7 Bears--Quicksilver Messenger Service
8 Games People Play--Joe South
9 Crossroads--Cream
10 Cruel War--Sugar n' Spice
Pick hit of the week: She's Not There--Neil MacArthur

Crime
Clay Shaw, 55, owner of the International Trade Mart in New Orleans, was acquitted by a criminal court jury in New Orleans of conspiracy in the 1963 assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The jury took just 54 minutes to acquit Mr. Shaw, who had been arrested in 1967 by New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, who postulated a criminal conspiracy reaching the highest levels of government.

War
The Communist offensive increased its pace in South Vietnam, concentrating on military installations.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon continued talks with French President Charles de Gaulle at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

World events
In the first major harassment of Berlin traffic since April 1965, heavily armed Communist border guards sealed off the main autobahn access route to West Berlin for about two hours.

Disasters
11 people died in an earthquake that shook Lisbon, while 4 were killed and 258 buildings were damaged in an earthquake in Huelva Province, Spain.

Boxing
Kim Ko-Soo won a 15-round decision over Hisao Minami in a middleweight fight in Seoul. I don't know who they were, but I do know this...

Baseball
Mickey Mantle announced his retirement from the New York Yankees after 18 seasons with the team. He made his retirement announcement at the Yankees' spring training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, having delayed the announcement as a favour to the Players Association, who were on strike at the beginning of the scheduled spring training period. Mr. Mantle, who had played center field and then right field before moving to first base for his last two seasons, batted .298 with 536 home runs and 1,509 runs batted in in 2,401 games, helping the Yankees win 12 American League pennants and 7 World Series. He won the triple crown in 1956, and led the AL in slugging four times; in home runs four times; in RBIs once; and in runs six times. Mr. Mantle's total of 18 career home runs in World Series play remains the record.

30 years ago
1979

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Athlete

Diplomacy
Israel rejected U.S. proposals for a peace treaty with Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

Politics and government
The governing Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD), led by Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez, won 168 of 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies in the Spanish general election, and formed a government with the help of the Democratic Coalition (CD), led by Manuel Fraga, who took 9 seats. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), led by Felipe González, were second with 121 seats, followed by the Communist Party, led by Santiago Carrillo, with 23 seats. The UCD won a majority in the Senate, taking 118 of 208 seats, followed by the PSOE with 61.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Michael Blumenthal signed an accord in Beijing in which China agreed to settle American claims on $196.6 million in assets that had been confiscated in 1949.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 1 @ Montreal 2

Maple Leafs' owner Harold Ballard had threatened to fire head coach Roger Neilson if the team lost to the defending Stanley Cup champion Canadiens at the Montreal Forum. With Paul Harrison playing well in goal in place of injured regular Mike Palmateer, the Maple Leafs gave a heroic effort, but lost. Mr. Harrison was injured in the last minute, and was replaced by Pierre Hamel; it was Mr. Hamel's first NHL action since the fall of 1974. It was announced after the game that Mr. Neilson had been fired and replaced by John McLellan, who had previously been head coach of the Maple Leafs from 1970-1973.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
Edmonton's top 30 (CHED)
1 Thriller--Michael Jackson
2 99 Red Balloons--Nena
3 Jump--Van Halen
4 Girls Just Want to Have Fun--Cyndi Lauper
5 Here Comes the Rain Again--Eurythmics
6 Nobody Told Me--John Lennon
7 Red Red Wine--UB40
8 Got a Hold on Me--Christine McVie
9 Heaven--Bryan Adams
10 Footloose--Kenny Loggins
11 I Want a New Drug--Huey Lewis and the News
12 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
13 Somebody's Watching Me--Rockwell
14 Wrapped Around Your Finger--The Police
15 Middle of the Road--The Pretenders
16 New Moon on Monday--Duran Duran
17 Yah Mo B There--James Ingram and Michael McDonald
18 Don't Bite--Pretty Rough
19 Runner--Manfred Mann's Earth Band
20 Rebel Yell--Billy Idol
21 Joanna--Kool & the Gang
22 An Innocent Man--Billy Joel
23 This Could Be the Right One--April Wine
24 Hold Me Now--Thompson Twins
25 The Language of Love--Dan Fogelberg
26 Come Back and Stay--Paul Young
27 Scratchin' the Surface--Saga
28 So Bad--Paul McCartney
29 Radio Ga Ga--Queen
30 Adult Education--Daryl Hall and John Oates

Died on this date
Roland Culver, 83. U.K. actor. Mr. Culver's films included Night Train to Munich (1940); The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943); and Dead of Night (1945).

Jackie Coogan, 69. U.S. actor. Mr. Coogan, the son of vaudevillian parents, made his movie debut in Skinner's Baby in 1917, and rocketed to fame when Charlie Chaplin used him as his co-star in The Kid (1921). Mr. Coogan followed this with a string of hits through 1927, including Peck's Bad Boy (1921); Oliver Twist (1922); and Little Robinson Crusoe (1924). He was paid $2,000 per week while making Peck's Bad Boy. Mr. Coogan's popularity diminished with adolescence, and his career stalled after he played Tom Sawyer in Tom Sawyer (1930) and Huckleberry Finn (1931). In 1935, Mr. Coogan was seriously injured in a car accident that claimed the life of his father, Jack Coogan, Sr., and best friend, actor Junior Durkin. His mother promptly remarried (to Arthur Bernstein, his business manager), but the couple refused to let Jackie have access to the money that he'd earned as a child star. Jackie filed suit, but under California law at the time, he had no right to the approximately $4 million that he'd earned, and he was awarded just $126,000 in 1939. Public outrage led the California legislature to pass the Child Actors Bill, also known as the Coogan Act, designed to set up trust funds and protect the earnings of child actors. Mr. Coogan was reduced to bit parts in movies in the late 1930s and early 1940s, and then fought with the United States Army in the Pacific theatre in World War II. Television allowed him to resume his acting career. In addition to many guest spots, Mr. Coogan was a regular in the western series Cowboy G-Men (1952-1953); the comedy series McKeever and the Colonel (1962-1963); and most memorably, The Addams Family (1964-1966), as Uncle Fester. In his last 20 years he continued to make numerous television and occasional movie appearances. His last appearance was in the slasher movie The Prey, which was released eight months after Mr. Coogan's death.

Diplomacy
The Syrian press agency issued a communique on a meeting in Damascus between Lebanese President Amin Gemayel and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. It was reported that the leaders were in "complete agreement" on ways of "reinforcing Lebanon's Arab identity, unity, and independence."

King Hussein of Jordan and Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat concluded five days of discussion on how to coordinate their approach to Middle east peace negotiations. They agreed to continue talking and reaffirmed their support for the 1982 Arab summit declaration that called for Palestinian statehood.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings (South Carolina) and former Florida Governor Reuben Askew withdrew from the contest for the Democratic party nomination for President of the United States in the November 1984 election.

Skiing
Tamara McKinney of Lexington, Kentucky won the giant slalom in Vail, Colorado, becoming the first American woman to win a single season's World Cup championship.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Bring Me Edelweiss--Edelweiss (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Did I Tell You--Jerry Williams (2nd week at #1)

Austria's top 10 (Ö3)
1 First Time--Robin Beck (5th week at #1)
2 Das Phantom der Oper--Alexander Goebel & Luzia Nistler
3 Twist in My Sobriety--Tanita Tikaram
4 In the Air Tonight ('88 Remix)--Phil Collins
5 Listen to the Voices--Labi Siffre
6 Put a Little Love in Your Heart--Annie Lennox and Al Green
7 Never Trust a Stranger--Kim Wilde
8 Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney
9 Tango Korrupti--Rainhard Fendrich
10 Stop!--Sam Brown

Singles entering the chart were Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart; She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals (#11); We'll Be Together by Sandra (#16); Especially for You by Kylie & Jason (#17); and Good Life by Inner City (#27).

Died on this date
Vasantdada Patil, 71. Indian politician. Mr. Patil, a member of the Indian National Congress Party, was Chief Minister of Maharashtra (1977-1978, 1983-1985) and Governor of Rajasthan (1985-1987).

Space
The Canadian Space Agency was created by an act of Parliament.

Scandal
In Toronto, track coach Charlie Francis told the Dubin Inquiry that his pupil Ben Johnson and other athletes knowingly took banned steroids, and testified that Mr. Johnson started using steroids in 1981.

At the Washington, D.C. trial of former National Security Council member Oliver North, who was facing various charges relating to the mid-1980s Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal, Robert Owen, who had been Mr. North's courier to the Contras, concluded six days of testimony, during which he had said that Mr. North had provided detailed military advice and intelligence data to the Contras from 1984-1986. Major General John Singlaub (retired) testified that Mr. North knew that his efforts on behalf of the Contras violated the Boland Amendment, which prohibited U.S. intelligence agencies from aiding the Contras.

Protest
New riots erupted in Venezuela despite an announcement of wage increases.

Law
The United States became a member of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, an international agreement governing copyright.

10 years ago
1999

Crime
Eight tourists, a Ugandan game warden, and three rangers were murdered in a national forest in Uganda. The killers were Rwandan Hutus who apparently sought to destabilize the Ugandan government, which relied heavily on tourist revenue. The slain tourists were from Great Britain (4); New Zealand (2); and the United States (2).

Scandal
The third of five investigations into the International Olympic Committee was concluded with the release of a final report. The independent panel, headed by former United States Senator George Mitchell, concluded that the bribery related to the effort by Salt Lake City leaders to win the 2002 winter games was only part of a broader corruption of the IOC.

Adventure
Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland (the captain) and Brian Jones of Great Britain took off from Switzerland in the Breitling Orbiter 3, a 180-foot helium-powered balloon in an attempt to make the first circumnavigation of the globe in a balloon.

February 29 (2009)

125 years ago
1884

Born on this date
Richard S. Aldrich. U.S. politician. Mr. Aldrich, a son of U.S. Senator Nelson Aldrich and a cousin of the Rockefellers, was a Republican, and a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (1914-1916) and Senate (1916-1918). He represented Rhode Island's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1923-1933). Mr. Aldrich died on December 25, 1941 at the age of 57.

30 years ago
1984

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau announced that he would be resigning after more than 15 years in office. Saying that it was time "for someone else to assume this challenge," he said he would stay on as Prime Minister until after a Liberal Party leadership convention in late June 1984. When asked why he chose February 29th to announce his retirement, Mr. Trudeau replied, "Well, because it's a good day. It's the first day of the rest of my life - it seemed like a good day to have a last day." In typical Trudeau fashion, the Prime Minister made the announcement on February 29, enabling Canadians to celebrate the anniversary only every fourth year.

United States Senator Alan Cranston (California) withdrew from the contest for the Democratic party nomination for President of the United States in the November 1984 election after a poor showing in the previous day's New Hampshire primary.

War
The U.S.S.R. vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution, proposed by France, that would have sent an international peacekeeping force to Beirut.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the Index of Leading Economic Indicators had risen 1.1% in January, and that the U.S. merchandise trade deficit had increased by a record $9.47 billion.

Hockey
NHL
Philadelphia 5 Edmonton 3

February 28, 2009

890 years ago
1119

Born on this date
Xizong. Emperor of China, 1135-1150. Xizong, born Hela, was the third Emperor of the Jin dynasty in northern China. He succeeded his younger brother Taizong on the throne, and launched several military campaigns against the Southern Song dynasty in southern China, while reforming political institutions along the lines of the Han Chinese culture, which he admired. Emperor Xizong was 30 when he was assassinated by his chancellor, Digunai, and other court officials in a coup d'état on January 9, 1150.

400 years ago
1609

Died on this date
Paul Sartorius, 39. German musician and composer. Mr. Sartorius, born Paul Schneider, studied in Italy before obtaining the position of court organist for Archduke Maximilian III of Austria in 1594. Mr. Sartorius' compositions showed strong Italian influence. He died on February 28, 1609 at the age of 39.

220 years ago
1789

Theatre
New Brunswick's first dramatic performances were staged in Saint John, as The Busy Body and Who's The Dupe were presented in the Long Room of the Mallard House on King Street.

160 years ago
1849

Transportation
Regular steamship service from the east to the west coast of the United States began with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay, 4 months and 22 days after leaving New York Harbor.

120 years ago
1889

Technology
Gilbert W. Ganong, of Ganong Bros. Ltd. confectioners in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, patented a process for imprinting the bottom of individual chocolates with a wordmark. Each hand-dipped chocolate bore the initials “GB.”

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Stephen Spender. U.K. poet. Sir Stephen's poetry concentrated on themes of social injustice and class struggle. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1936, but eventually became disillusioned with Communism. Sir Stephen died on July 16, 1995 at the age of 86.

70 years ago
1939

Literature
The erroneous word "dord" was discovered in Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, prompting an investigation, and the eventual removal of the "ghost word" in 1947.

60 years ago
1949

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

Literature
Books published in New York included To Hell and Back by Audie Murphy (Holt); an English translation of An Outline of Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud (Norton); and A Tree of Night and Other Stories by Truman Capote (Random House).

War
Israeli troops occupied the fortress of Faluja in the Negev desert, following the withdrawal of the Egyptian garrison.

Diplomacy
The Indonesian Republic refused to attend a Dutch-sponsored conference on Indonesia in The Hague, charging the Netherlands with bypassing United Nations Security Council recommendations.

Politics and government
The U.S. Senate opened debate on a proposal sponsored by the administration of President Harry Truman to limit the filibuster. Senate Democrats filibustered against the measure.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. reduced prices of clothing, food, and other consumer goods by 10%-30%.

The U.S. Agriculture Department reported February farm prices at their lowest levels since September 1946.

The New York County Medical Society, the largest member group of the American Medical Association, refused to support the AMA's fight against U.S. President Truman's compulsory medical insurance proposal.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)--Domenico Modugno (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Tom Dooley--Nilsen Brothers (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Stagger Lee--Lloyd Price (3rd week at #1)
2 Donna--Ritchie Valens
3 Charlie Brown--The Coasters
4 Petite Fleur (Little Flower)--Chris Barber's Jazz Band
5 The Children's Marching Song (Nick Nack Paddy Whack)--Cyril Stapleton and his Orchestra
--Mitch Miller and his Orchestra
6 16 Candles--The Crests
7 Peter Gunn--Ray Anthony and his Orchestra
8 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters
9 The Hawaiian Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au)--Andy Williams
10 I Cried a Tear--LaVern Baker

Singles entering the chart were Never Be Anyone Else But You by Ricky Nelson (#79); Pink Shoe Laces by Dodie Stevens (#81); No Other Arms, No Other Lips, with versions by the Chordettes; and the Four Aces (#86); A House of Love by Scott Garrett (#88); The Morning Side of the Mountain by Tommy Edwards (#89); I Can't Sit Down by Marie and Rex (#93); The Millionaire by Perez Prado and his Orchestra (#94); Are You Lonesome Tonight by Jaye P. Morgan (#95); Where were You (On Our Wedding Day)? by Lloyd Price (#96); and Up Jumped a Rabbit by Frankie Lymon (#97). The Morning Side of the Mountain, a new recording of a song that had bee a hit for Mr. Edwards in 1951, was the other side of Please Mr. Sun, charting at #40.

Died on this date
Maxwell Anderson, 70. U.S. journalist and playwright. Mr. Anderson worked with various newspapers before embarking on a successful career as a playwright, with his first success being What Price Glory? (1924). He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Both Your Houses (1933). Mr. Anderson's other plays included Winterset (1935); High Tor (1937); Key Largo (1939); Anne of the Thousand Days (1948); and The Bad Seed (1954). He died two days after suffering a stroke.

Space
The U.S. Air Force launched the satellite Discoverer 1 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California as part of the Corona reconnaissance satellite program. It was the first satellite launched toward the South Pole in an attempt to achieve polar orbit, but was unsuccessful, and probably landed somewhere near the South Pole.

Politics and government
Following visits to the Middle East, Far East, and U.S.S.R., East German Premier Otto Grotewohl began an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons.

The Voltaic Republic adopted a draft constitution that would bar Volta membership in the new Mali Federation of French West Africa.

Law
Cuban President Manuel Urrutio approved a law authorizing the confiscation of property of collaborators with the regime of ousted President Fulgencio Batista, including all cabinet ministers since 1952.

Economics and finance
The United Kingdom and United Arab Republic formally signed an agreement in Cairo ending financial and trade disagreements arising from the 1956 Anglo-French invasion of the Suez Canal area.

Figure Skating
Canadians Barbara Wagner and Bob Paul won the Ice Pairs competition at the world championships in Colorado Springs. It was their third championship in a row, and they repeated the feat in 1960.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da--The Marmalade

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 To Susan on the West Coast Waiting/Atlantis--Donovan (2nd week at #1/1st week at #1)
2 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 But You Know I Love You--The First Edition
4 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
5 Games People Play--Joe South
6 Hang 'em High--Booker T. & the M.G.'s
7 Mendocino--Sir Douglas Quintet
8 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
9 I'm Livin' in Shame--Diana Ross and the Supremes
10 Time of the Season--The Zombies

Singles entering the chart were Atlantis; Nothing But a Heartache by the Flirtations (#27); Someday Soon by Judy Collins (#28); and You Gave Me a Mountain by Frankie Laine (#30).

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells (4th week at #1)
2 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
3 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
4 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees
5 Touch Me--The Doors
6 You Showed Me--The Turtles
7 Games People Play--Joe South
8 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
9 But You Know I Love You--The First Edition
10 Hooked on a Feeling--B.J. Thomas

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon met Italian leaders in Rome, then flew to Paris, where he was welcomed by French President Charles de Gaulle, who called Mr. Nixon's visit an "honour" and a "joy." The two leaders had long talks at the Elysee Palace.

Crime
Sirhan Sirhan told the court that he wanted to change his plea to guilty of the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy the previous June, and wanted to be executed. The judge denied the request, and warned Mr. Sirhan that if he was not quiet he would be "put in chains."

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Heart of Glass--Blondie (3rd week at #1)

War
Saudi Arabia put her armed forces on full alert in response to continued fighting between Yemen and South Yemen. Saudi Arabia called for an Arab League meeting to resolve the dispute.

Defense
The United States abandoned an electronic listening post on the U.S.S.R.-Iran border after it was shut down by Iranian employees in a dispute over severance pay.

Politics and government
Jane Byrne defeated incumbent Michael Bilandic in Chicago's Democratic Party primary for mayor, a major upset against the old-time Richard Daley political machine.

Hockey
NHL
Chicago 4 Vancouver 4

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): My Oh My--Slade (6th week at #1)

War
Iran denied Iraq's claim of the previous day that it had launched air attacks on oil tankers at Kharg Island, Iran's principal oil export terminal. Iran denied that the terminal or any tankers had been hit.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau went for a walk in an Ottawa blizzard and decided to resign. He made the announcement the next day.

United States Senator Gary Hart (Colorado) won the New Hampshire primary for the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States in the November 1984 election. A New York Times/CBS poll made public that day showed former Vice President Walter Mondale as the national choice for the nomination by a wide margin, but Sen. Hart captured 37% of the vote in New Hampshire to 28% for Mr. Mondale and 12% for U.S. Senator John Glenn (Ohio). In the Republican primary, President Ronald Reagan drew 86% of the vote.

Economics and finance
United States governors, at their convention, voted 28-10 in favour of higher taxes and reduced defense outlays as a means of reducing U.S. budget deficits.

20 years ago
1989

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Loosiers

Politics and government
Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez declared martial law, amid nationwide riots over government-imposed increases in transportation fares and gasoline prices.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Clarence Henry, 72. U.S. boxer. Mr. Henry was a heavyweight who compiled a record of 34-6-1 in a professional career from 1948-1954, defeating top contenders such as Bob Baker, and losing to world light heavyweight champions Archie Moore and Harold Johnson. Mr. Henry retired after being arrested in New York on June 4, 1954 for attempting to bribe middleweight Bobby Jones to throw his June 11 bout against Joey Giardello. Mr. Henry was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998. He died 27 days before his 73rd birthday.

War
Ethiopia claimed that its army had defeated Eritrean forces in the Badme region.

February 27, 2009

200 years ago
1809

War
The French frigates Pénélope and Pauline, led by Captains Bernard Dubourdieu and François-Gilles Montfort, respectively, captured the British frigate HMS Proserpine, led by Captain Charles Otter, near Toulon.

150 years ago
1859

Died on this date
Philip Barton Key II, 40. U.S. lawyer. Mr. Key, the son of The Star Spangled Banner composer Francis Scott Key, was U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. He was having an affair with Teresa Sickles, wife of U.S. Representative Daniel Sickles (Democrat--New York), and Rep. Sickles fatally shot him. Charged with murder, Rep. Sickles invoked the defense of temporary insanity, and was acquitted, in the first successful use of such a defense in the United States.

130 years ago
1879

Born on this date
Charles Stockard. U.S. anatomist and zoologist. Dr. Stockard conducted numerous experiments studying the growth and differentiation of germ line cells within embryos. His research on embryonic development in guinea pigs given alcohol demonstrated that alcohol consumption can lead to birth defects. Dr. Stockard's books included Hormones and Structural Development (1927) and The Physical Basis of Personality (1931). He died on April 7, 1939 at the age of 60.

Business
Henry Birks opened a small jewellery shop, Henry Birks and Company, at 222 Rue Saint-Jacques, in the heart of Montreal’s business section. His business formula was: cash sales only and the same price for everyone. In 1893, he went into partnership with his three sons as Henry Birks and Sons.

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Charles H. Best. U.S.-born Canadian physiologist and biochemist. Dr. Best, born in Maine to parents from Nova Scotia, moved to Toronto in 1915. As a medical student at the University of Toronto, he assisted Dr. Frederick Banting in the discovery of Insulin in 1921. Dr. Best died on March 31, 1978 at the age of 79.

Transportation
The Canadian Pacific Railway launched the 70-ton steamboat Ymir (70 tons) at Nelson, British Columbia; it was withdrawn from service in 1929.

Labour
An amendment to British Columbia's Inspection of Metaliferous Mines Act 1897 received royal assent, limiting underground miners' hours to 8 hours per day.

100 years ago
1909

Canadiana
Ontario added a crest, supporters, and motto to the provincial coat-of-arms.

90 years ago
1919

Hockey
Stanley Cup
NHL
Finals
Montreal 5 @ Ottawa 3 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Joe Malone scored 2 straight goals in the 2nd period and Odie Cleghorn scored a true hat trick in the 3rd period to enable the Canadiens to defeat the Senators at the Arena. Harry Cameron, Buck Boucher, and Cy Denneny scored the Ottawa goals.

80 years ago
1929

Boxing
Jack Sharkey (32-8-1) won a 10-round decision over Young Stribling (214-11-17-1) at Flamingo Park in Miami Beach, Florida in an elimination bout for the vacant world heavyweight title. The card opened with a battle royale of 12 Negro fighters.



70 years ago
1939

Labour
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sit-down strikes violated property owners' rights, and were therefore illegal.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Pat Novak For Hire, starring Jack Webb, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Marcia Halpern

Died on this date
Luis Manuel Rojas Arreola. Mexican politician. Mr. Rojas was president of the congress in 1916-1917 that framed Mexico's constitution.

War
A two-day battle between Siamese Army and Navy forces ended in Bangkok with 50 soldiers dead. Government spokesmen blamed the incident on agitation by dissident politicians.

The Chinese Nationalist peace mission returned from Peking after conferring with Communist leader Mao Tse-tung.

Defense
The U.S. Navy began its largest post-World War II maneuvers to date with a simulated nuclear attack on surface ships in the Caribbean Sea.

Health
A joint meeting of the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute in Memphis ended after hearing a report linking increased cigarette smoking to the rapid rise in the incidence of lung cancer during the past 25 years.

50 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): As I Love You--Shirley Bassey with Wally Stott and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)

Space
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration disclosed that it had compiled a list of 110 pilots from which it expected to select the pilot of the first Project Mercury flight.

Politics and government
General Ne Win took office as Prime Minister of a revised Burmese cabinet.

Scandal
In Tacoma, Washington, U.S. District Court Judge George Boldt sentenced former Teamsters union President Dave Beck to five years in prison, fined him $60,000, and ordered him to pay $10,000 in court costs, following his conviction on six counts of tax evasion.

A U.S. federal grand jury in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania acquitted U.S. Representative William Green, Jr. (Democrat--Pennsylvania) of charges that he had conspired to defraud the U.S. government in connection with the construction of a $33-million Army Signal Corps depot at Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

40 years ago
1969

On television tonight
Dragnet 1969, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Juvenile Division: DR-19



Died on this date
Marius Barbeau, 85. Canadian anthropologist. Professor Barbeau, a native of Sainte-Marie, Quebec, was one of the founders of Canadian anthropology, specializing in Québecois folk culture and traditions and culture of the Tsimshianic-speaking peoples--Tsimshian, Gitxsan, and Nisga'a--in northern British Columbia. His belief that the latter groups had migrated from Siberia across the Bering Strait has been heavily disputed. Prof. Barbeau died in Ottawa, six days before his 86th birthday.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon spent 20 hours in Rome, where he was greeted by President Giuseppe Saragat. The occasion was also marked by thousands of student protesters and Communists, who started a riot that lasted into the next day. At least 31 people, including 21 policemen, were injured. However, the only crowds that Mr. Nixon saw were friendly ones lining his route.

Economics and Finance
The British bank rate was raised to 8% from 7% in a move to reinforce the credit squeeze on commercial banks--a move considered essential to bring imports into better balance with exports.

Labour
A nationwide strike of 15,000 American Airlines ground employees caused delays and roundabout routings.

30 years ago
1979

On television tonight
The Paper Chase, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Once More with Feeling



Diplomacy
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin agreed to meet with United States President Jimmy Carter to discuss the proposed Middle East peace settlement, but the Israeli cabinet vetoed Mr. Begin's return to Camp David to conclude treaty negotiations with Egypt.

Health
A study by the National Academy of Sciences recommended restrictions but no ban on the use of the artificial sweetener Saccharin, which had caused cancer in laboratory rats.

Economics and Finance
Cleveland voters approved a 50% increase in city taxes to bail out the financially strapped city government and the retention of the city-owned municipal electrical utility. The results were seen as a victory for Mayor Dennis Kucinich, who had campaigned for both measures.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Love Is a Battlefield--Pat Benatar (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Thriller--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

War
Iraq said that it had begun to blockade Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal, and that its forces had launched air attacks against oil tankers at Kharg. The United States said that it was unable to verify the air attacks.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)--The Proclaimers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Real Gone Kid--Deacon Blue (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush met with South Korean opposition leaders and addressed the National Assembly in Seoul.

Protest
Riots spread across Venezuela in reaction against government-imposed increases in transportation fares and gasoline prices.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Horace Tapscott, 64. U.S. musician. Mr. Tapscott was a jazz trombonist who played with various bands, including that of Lionel Hampton (1959-1961), before focusing on piano and forming the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, which he led from 1961 through the 1990s.

War
Eritrea accepted the peace plan, originally put forth by the Organization for African Unity, intended to end the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Politics and government
Olusegun Obasanjo, representing the People's Democratic Party, won the Nigerian presidential election, receiving 62.78% of the vote to 37.22% for Alliance for Democracy-All People's Party candidate Olue Falae, nearly completing the country's transition to civilian rule. Mr. Obasanjo, a military leader during the civil war with Biafra from 1967-1970, had become President in 1976 after his predecessor was assassinated while trying to implement civilian rule. Mr. Obasanjo completed the transition, handing over the presidency to an elected civilian in 1979. The military later seized power again, and Mr. Obasanjo was imprisoned from 1995 to 1998, when General Sani Abacha, Nigeria's ruler, died. Mr. Falae claimed that vote fraud had occurred in the election.

Hockey
NHL
Florida 1 @ Toronto 4

February 26, 2009

180 years ago
1829

Born on this date
Levi Strauss. German-born U.S. clothing magnate. Mr. Strauss, born Löb Strauß in Bavaria, moved with his family to New York City at the age of 18. He founded Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco in 1847. The company, originally a dry goods business, became the first company to manufacture blue jeans. Mr. Strauss died on September 26, 1902 at the age of 73, leaving an estate of about $125 million (more than $3 billion today).

130 years ago
1879

Born on this date
Frank Bridge. U.K. composer. Mr. Bridge was a violist in string quartets who composed chamber and choral works, as well as works for piano and organ. He died on January 10, 1941 at the age of 61.

120 years ago
1889

Died on this date
Karl Davydov, 50. Russian musician and composer. Mr. Davydov was nicknamed the "czar of cellists" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and composed several dozen works, mainly for cello. He died 17 days before his 51st birthday.

110 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Max Petitpierre. President of the Swiss Confederation, 1950, 1955, 1960. Mr. Petitpierre, a member of the Free Democratic Party, was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1944-1961, heading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during that period. He died on March 25, 1994, 27 days after his 95th birthday.

100 years ago
1909

Movies
Kinemacolor, the first successful colour motion picture process, was first shown to the general public, at the Palace Theatre in London.

90 years ago
1919

Environment
The United States Congress passed An Act to Establish the Grand Canyon National Park in the State of Arizona, and An Act to Establish the Lafayette National Park at Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine.

80 years ago
1929

Environment
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed an executive order establishing the 96,000-acre Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

60 years ago
1949

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Buttons and Bows--Dinah Shore and the Happy Valley Boys; Gene Autry (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): A Little Bird Told Me--Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters (6th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 A Little Bird Told Me--Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters (4th week at #1)
--Paula Watson
2 Far Away Places--Bing Crosby
--Perry Como
--Margaret Whiting and the Crew Chiefs
3 Powder Your Face with Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)--Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
4 Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
5 I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm--Les Brown and his Orchestra
--The Mills Brothers
6 Red Roses for a Blue Lady--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
7 So Tired--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
8 Galway Bay--Bing Crosby
9 The Pussy Cat Song (Nyow! Nyot Nyow!)--Patty Andrews and Bob Crosby
--Perry Como with the Fontane Sisters
10 Down by the Station--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians

Singles entering the chart were You, You are the One, with versions by the Ames Brothers; and Russ Morgan and his Orchestra (#20); Sunflower by Russ Morgan and his Orchestra (#36); Bewildered by Billy Eckstine (#37); You Was by Doris Day and Buddy Clark (#39); and Careless Hands, with versions by Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra; and Mel Torme (#40).

On the radio
Tales of Fatima, starring Basil Rathbone, on CBS
Tonight’s episode: The Invisible Caballero

Asiatica
Pakistan incorporated Baluchistan, a territory bordering on Iran and Afghanistan, as the country's fifth province.

Diplomacy
The Dutch government promised to release all interned Indonesian Republic leaders, and called a conference of Indonesian political groups in The Hague.

Politics and government
Dissident members of the Colorado Party in Paraguay removed provisional President Raimundo Rolon in favour of former Education Minister Felipe Molas Lopez.

Track and field
NCAA
James Sholtz of the United States Military Academy set a world record in the shot put of 60 feet 7 3/4 inches at the intercollegiate 4-A indoor championships in New York. Michigan State University won the overall title.

50 years ago
1959

Died on this date
Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife, 67. U.K. Royal Family member. Princess Alexandra, a granddaughter of King Edward VII, was the daughter of Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife, who had married Princess Louise of Wales, daughter of the future King Edward VII. Princess Alexandra married Prince Arthur of Connaught in 1913.

World events
Southern Rhodesian Prime Minister Sir Edgar Whitehead proclaimed a state of emergency and outlawed all African nationalist groups.

Defense
The British House of Commons rejected a Labour Party resolution criticizing the Conservative government's defense policy for excessive reliance on nuclear weapons.

Agriculture
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson designated three methods of rendering livestock unconscious before slaughter under a new humane-slaughtering law.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. and the People's Republic of China signed a short-term trade agreement in Moscow providing for the exchange of $1.75 billion worth of Soviet industrial equipment for Chinese goods.

Football
NFL
In one of the biggest trades in National Football League history, Los Angeles Rams' general manager Pete Rozelle dealt eight players and a draft choice to the Chicago Cardinals for star running back Ollie Matson, who had been with the Cardinals since 1952. In 1958, Mr. Matson had rushed for 505 yards on 129 carries with 5 touchdowns; caught 33 passes for 465 yards and 3 touchdowns; completed 1 of 2 passes for 4 yards; and returned 14 kickoffs for 497 yards and 2 touchdowns.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?--Peter Sarstedt

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Lily the Pink--The Scaffold (3rd week at #1)
2 Eloise--Barry Ryan
3 I Started a Joke/Kilburn Towers--The Bee Gees
4 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
5 Edge of Reality/If I Can Dream--Elvis Presley
6 Star Crossed Lovers--Neil Sedaka
7 Son-of-a Preacher Man--Dusty Springfield
8 Going Up the Country--Canned Heat
9 Lily the Pink/Mrs. Cardinal's Board House--The Irish Rovers
10 Scarborough Fair--Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66

Singles entering the chart were Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells (#27); Something's Happening/It's Nice to Be Out by Herman's Hermits (#33); Touch Me by the Doors (#35); Stand by Your Man by Tammy Wynette (#36); This Magic Moment by Jay and the Americans (#39); and Adios Amor by Jose Feliciano (#40).

Died on this date
Karl Jaspers, 86. German-born Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher. Dr. Jaspers practiced as a psychiatrist before turning to philosophy in 1921, remaining in Germany--often under threat from arrest by the Nazis--until moving to Switzerland in 1948. He wrote the book General Psychopathology (1913), advocating the diagnosis of symptoms of mental illness by their form rather than by their content. As a philosopher, Dr. Jaspers was associated with existentialism, although he rejected the label. He drew on the work of Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, and wrote on themes of individual freedom, arguing that as individuals question reality, they reach a point that the scientific method cannot transcend, and therefore make a leap of faith toward transcendence, experiencing authentic "Existenz." Dr. Jaspers died three days after his 86th birthday.

Levi Eshkol, 73. Prime Minister of Israel, 1963-1969. A native of Russia, Mr. Eshkol replaced David Ben-Gurion as Israel's Prime Minister in June 1963. He was Prime Minister during Israel's tremendous victory in the Six Day War in June 1967, although he was regarded at the time as being hesitant in his leadership. Mr. Eshkol's health gradually failed, and he became the first Israeli Prime Minister to die in office.

Space
The weather satellite ESSA-9, operated by the Environmental Science Services Administration, was launched by the United States from Cape Kennedy, Florida as the last in the TIROS Operational Satellite Series.

War
Heavy fighting broke out at two major military installations near Saigon as North Vietnamese and Viet Cong artillery attacks continued.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon arrived in Bonn, where he was welcomed by West German Chancellor Kurt Kiesinger. Mr. Nixon allayed West German fears about U.S. troop redeployment, indicating that he had no plans to reduce the estimated 225,000 stationed there; he also addressed the Bundestag. During a half day spent in West Berlin, where radical students unfurled banners inscribed "Black Power," and threw eggs, paint, and rocks at his limousine, Mr. Nixon restated the American pledge to defend the city.

World events
The Syrian Army. under the command of Defense Minister Lieutenant General Hafez al-Assad, seized control of the government to force greater cooperation with Iraq and the U.A.R. against Israel.

Politics and government
A few hours after the death of Levi Eshkol, the Israeli cabinet named Yigal Allon acting Prime Minister.

The White House announced that Representative Rogers Morton of Maryland would be the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, succeeding Ray Bliss. Mr. Morton's brother, Sen. Thurston B. Morton of Kentucky, had also been the national party chairman.

Academia
The University of Chicago's faculty council called for the use of police to keep campus order, and the expulsion of disruptive students.

Disasters
20 were reported killed after an earthquake and tidal waves razed Madjene on Celebes Island, Indonesia.

Boxing
Leotis Martin (28-5) won a 10-round split decision over Alvin "Blue" Lewis (19-3) in a heavyweight bout at Olympia Stadium in Detroit. Exactly three months earlier, Mr. Martin had scored a 9-round technical knockout over Mr. Lewis.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Le Freak-Chic

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Hero (Hero ni Naru Toki, Sore wa Ima)--Kai Band

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I was Made for Dancin'--Leif Garrett

Died on this date
Urban Henry, 43. U.S. football player. Mr. Henry played tackle at Georgia Institute of Technology (1955-1957), and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League in 1958. He went to the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League instead, and played with the Lions from 1958-1960, making the Western Interprovincial Football Union All-Star team at defensive tackle in each of his last two seasons. Mr. Henry played with the Rams (1961); Green Bay Packers (1963); and Pittsburgh Steelers (1964). Longtime B.C. Lions' executive Bobby Ackles, in his autobiography The Water Boy (2007), wrote about his friendship with Mr. Henry, and reported that Mr. Henry was a skilled painter, mainly of landscapes. Mr. Henry died of a heart attack.

Space
There was a total eclipse of the sun, visible from the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean; Central America; North America (except for western Alaska); the arctic regions; Greenland; Iceland; the north Atlantic Ocean; and western Europe. It was too cloudy in Calgary that morning to notice much of an effect.

Politics and government
In the United States, the Republican Party caucus at the National Governors Association meeting called for a balanced federal budget, and asked Congress to study proposals for a constitutional amendment to limit spending.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Street Dance--Break Machine

#1 single in Switzerland: Jenseits von Eden--Nino de Angelo (5th week at #1)

War
The withdrawal of U.S. Marines from Beirut was completed, and the enemy bunkers were occupied by Lebanese units opposed to Lebanese President Amin Gemayel.

Scandal
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States in the November 1984 election, apologized to Jewish voters for having referred earlier to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown."

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Kiss--The Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones

#1 single in Switzerland: First Time--Robin Beck (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Roy Eldridge, 78. U.S. musician. Mr. Eldridge was a jazz trumpeter and occasional singer with a number of bands, including those led by Fletcher Henderson, Gene Krupa, and Artie Shaw. Dizzy Gillespie was one of the musicians who cited Mr. Eldridge as a musical influence.

Diplomacy
Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini told Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze that the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan cleared the way for closer Soviet-Iranian ties.

U.S. President George Bush met with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in Beijing.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Michael Avallone, 74. U.S. author. Mr. Avallone, using his own name and various pseudonyms, wrote at least 223 novels (he claimed over 1,000). He was best known for mystery and secret agent novels, as well as novelizations of movies and television programs.

War
The United Nations Security Council, reversing a January decision, voted to pull its peacekeeping force out of Angola.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator John Kerry (Democrat--Massachusetts) withdrew from the contest for his party's presidential nomination for 2000.

February 25, 2009

230 years ago
1779

War
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark accepted British Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton’s unconditional surrender of Fort Sackville at Vincennes, Indiana.

200 years ago
1809

Born on this date
John Hart. U.K.-born-Australian politician. Mr. Hart was a sailor who first visited Australia in 1828, and settled in Adelaide in 1846. He was first elected to the South Australian Legislative Council in 1851, holding various offices, and serving as Premier of South Australia three times (October 1865-March 1866; September-October 1868; May 1870-November 1871). Mr. Hart was still a member of the House of Assembly when he died suddenly on January 28, 1873, four weeks before his 64th birthday.

120 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Homer Ferguson. U.S. politician, diplomat, and judge. Mr. Ferguson, a Republican, represented Michigan in the United States Senate from 1943-1955, chairing the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 1953-1955. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines (1955-1956) and then as a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (1956-1971). Mr. Ferguson died on December 17, 1982 at the age of 93.

110 years ago
1899

Died on this date
Paul Reuter, 82. German-born U.K. journalist. Mr. Reuter, born Israel Josaphat, moved to England in 1845 and founded Reuters News Agency in 1851. He eventually became a baron.

Hockey
CAHL
Ottawa (4-4) @ Quebec (0-8) (Ottawa won by forfeit)
Montreal Victorias (6-1) 10 @ Montreal (3-5) 6

The Quebec Hockey Club had dropped out of the league after losing their first six games, and forfeited their last two scheduled games.

90 years ago
1919

Economics and finance
Oregon placed a one cent per gallon tax on gasoline, becoming the first U.S. state to levy a gasoline tax.

75 years ago
1934

Died on this date
John McGraw, 60. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. McGraw was an infielder with the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association and National League (1891-1899); St. Louis Cardinals (1900); Baltimore Orioles of the American League (1901-1902); and New York Giants (1902-1906), batting .334 with 13 home runs and 462 runs batted in in 1,099 games. The Orioles of the 1890s became a legendary team, in no small part because of the dirty style of play of men such as Mr. McGraw. He managed the NL Orioles in 1899 and the AL Orioles in 1901-1902, before running afoul of AL President Ban Johnson. Mr. McGraw then moved to the Giants, managing them until his resignation 40 games into the 1932 season. Under Mr. McGraw, the Giants won 10 NL pennants and World Series in 1905, 1921, and 1922. Mr. McGraw finished his managerial career with a record of 2,763-1,948, a winning percentage of .586. His total of wins remains second to Connie Mack's total of 3,731. Mr. McGraw's still holds the National League record with 2,669 wins. He came out of retirement to manage the National League in the first All-Star Game in 1933, which the American League won 4-2. Mr. McGraw was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937.

70 years ago
1939

Defense
The first of 2​1⁄2 million Anderson air raid shelters appeared in North London.

60 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Your Show Time, hosted and narrated by Arthur Shields, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Invisible Wound, starring Reginald Denny and Maria Palmer

Space
A two-stage rocket reached a record altitude of 250 miles at a speed of 5,000 miles per hour above the White Sands proving grounds in New Mexico.

World events
15 Bulgarian Protestant leaders went on trial before a court in Sofia on charges of espionage and currency speculation. Three defendants read confessions in the opening session.

The Wuerttemberg-Baden Denazification Review Board nullified the eight-year prison sentence of former Riechsbank direcotr Hjalmar Schacht.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman appointed James McDonald the first U.S. Ambassador to Israel, while Eliahu Elath was named Israeli Ambassador to the U.S.A.

Defense
A 20,000-man U.S. Navy task force returned to the United States after completing Operation Micowex, a month of amphibious maneuvers in the North Pacific Ocean.

Transportation
Eastern and National Airlines agreed to interchange traffic between Florida and Texas.

Economics and finance
The German Economic Administration of the U.S.-U.K. zone nominated 12 management trustees to direct the heavy industry of the Ruhr, with nominees requiring the approval of the Western Allied military governors.

Business
The U.S. Civil Aeronautics Borad granted a $7.8-million increase in airmail subsidies to seven U.S. airlines in an attempt to offset 1948 airline losses.

General Motors promised a $10-$40 price reduction of new cars.

Labour
General Motors announced that wages of 341,000 employees would be cut on March 7 under its cost-of-living contract with the United Auto Workers of America due to falling living costs.

50 years ago
1959

Politics and government
The U.S. Republican National Committee appointed a 44-member commission headed by Charles Percy, president of Bell & Howell Company, to draft a statement of the Republican Party's positions and objectives for the next 10-12 years.

Protest
One Somali was killed and 14 wounded in political rioting in Mogadishu.

Energy
The first of four nuclear reactors under construction in Scotland began supplying current to Britain's national power grid.

Transportation
El Al Airlines began airlifts between Vienna and Lydda airport in Israel to handle increased numbers of Jewish emigrants from Romania.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Beatles (5th week at #1)

Music
The single Memories/Charro by Elvis Presley was released on RCA Victor Records.

War
At the Paris peace talks, U.S. officials criticized the latest Viet Cong and North Vietnamese offensive against South Vietnam, saying that the attacks raised the question of whether the Communists really wanted peace.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon visited the House of Commons in London.

Protest
A high school student who identified himself as "Human Torch No. 2" died in Prague after setting himself afire in Saint Wenceslaus Square to protest the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Terrorism
A bomb exploded in Montreal, the tenth to explode in the city since the beginning of the year.

Politics and government
Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O'Neill said that he would not resign despite not being given a mandate for his moderate reform program aimed at meeting civil rights demands of the Roman Catholic minority in Northern Ireland.

Academia
Dr. William H. Masterson resigned as president of Rice University in Houston, Texas, three days after 1,000 students and 200 faculty members had rallied to protest his appointment.

Students at Pennsylvania State University complied with a court injunction and ended their occupation of the administration building.

Weather
Three days of heavy rain in southern California concluded with at least 12,500 homeless and 10 dead in mudslides and floods.

Disasters
A fire that swept through a Fifth Avenue office building in New York killed 11 and critically burned 5.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Y.M.C.A.--Village People

#1 single in Switzerland: Y.M.C.A.--Village People (6th week at #1)

War
Heavy fighting continued on the northern border between Vietnam and China. Chinese Deputy Premier Wang Chen claimed that China's invasion of Vietnamese territory would be "limited in scope and duration."

Fighting erupted along the border between Yemen and South Yemen as both nations accused each other of staging an invasion.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Jimmy Carter invited Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to join him and Egyptian Premier Mustafa Khalil at the Camp David peace talks in a bold move to hasten efforts to conclude a peace treaty.

Scandal
U.S. President Jimmy Carter disavowed recent comments by his brother Billy that were widely regarded as anti-Semitic, saying that he regretted them, and that they did not reflect his views.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La Donna Cannone--Francesco De Gregori (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT Top 30): Love of the Common People--Paul Young (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Radio Ga Ga--Queen

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Girls Just Want to Have Fun--Cyndi Lauper (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Relax--Frankie Goes to Hollywood (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Jump--Van Halen

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Jump--Van Halen
2 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
3 Joanna--Kool & The Gang
4 Girls Just Want to Have Fun--Cyndi Lauper
5 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
6 99 Luftballons--Nena
7 Nobody Told Me--John Lennon
8 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics
9 Thriller--Michael Jackson
10 Let the Music Play--Shannon

Singles entering the chart were They Don't Know by Tracey Ullman (#66); Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) by Phil Collins (#70); Tonight by Kool & The Gang (#80); Make My Day by T.G. Sheppard with Clint Eastwood (#85); Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler (#88); and One in a Million by the Romantics (#89). Against All Odds was the title song of the movie.

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Red Red Wine--UB40 (2nd week at #1)
2 Talking in Your Sleep--The Romantics
3 Karma Chameleon--Culture Club
4 Nobody Told Me--John Lennon
5 99 Red Balloons--Nena
6 Jump--Van Halen
7 Break My Stride--Matthew Wilder
8 Thriller--Michael Jackson
9 Owner of a Lonely Heart--Yes
10 Wrapped Around Your Finger--The Police

Singles entering the chart were Hold Me Now by Thompson Twins (#43); Footloose by Kenny Loggins (#44); Almost Over You by Sheena Easton (#47); All Right Now by the Santers (#48); and Don't Let Go by Wang Chung (#50).

Disasters
At least 508 people were killed in the explosion of an oil pipeline and the subsequent fire on the outskirts of Cubatao, Brazil.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): 051/222525--Fabio Concato (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): You Got It--Roy Orbison (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry

#1 single in France (SNEP): Pour toi Arménie--Charles Aznavour and various artists (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Belfast Child--Simple Minds

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Straight Up--Paula Abdul (3rd week at #1)
2 Lost in Your Eyes--Debbie Gibson
3 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
4 The Lover in Me--Sheena Easton
5 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
6 She Wants to Dance with Me--Rick Astley
7 You Got It (The Right Stuff)--New Kids on the Block
8 What I Am--Edie Brickell and New Bohemians
9 The Living Years--Mike + the Mechanics
10 Walking Away--Information Society

Singles entering the chart were Heaven Help Me by Deon Estus (with George Michael) (#67); It's Only Love by Simply Red (#77); Seventeen by Winger (#78); Driven Out by the Fixx (#81); Radio Romance by Tiffany (#84); Birthday Suit by Johnny Kemp (#85); Falling Out of Love by Ivan Neville (#91); This Time by Kiara (Duet with Shanice Wilson (#93); I Can't Face the Fact by Gina Go-Go (#94); and Tribute (Right On) by the Pasadenas (#97).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Lost in Your Eyes--Debbie Gibson
2 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
3 The Lover in Me--Sheena Easton
4 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
5 You Got It (The Right Stuff)--New Kids on the Block
6 She Wants to Dance with Me--Rick Astley
7 What I Am--Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
8 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
9 When I'm with You--Sheriff
10 Walking Away--Information Society

Singles entering the chart were Room to Move by Animotion (#65); Tribute (Right On) by the Pasadenas (#72); I Cry Myself to Sleep at Night by Romeo's Daughter (#75); Radio Romance by Tiffany (#80); Heaven Help Me by Deon Estus (with George Michael) (#82); Seventeen by Winger (#85); Halleluiah Man by Love and Money (#87); and One by Metallica (#89).

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush flew to Beijing.

Skiing
Rob Boyd won a World Cup downhill race in his home town of Whistler, British Columbia, becoming the first Canadian to win a FIS World Cup Ski race in Canada.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 5 St. Louis 3

Football
NFL
Jerry Jones, the new owner of the Dallas Cowboys, fired head coach Tom Landry, who had been the team's only head coach through their first 29 seasons. Mr. Landry had led the Cowboys to Super Bowl championships in 1972 and 1978, and the classless manner of his dismissal outraged everyone with a sense of decency.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Glenn Seaborg, 86. U.S. chemist. Dr. Seaborg, leader of the team that created plutonium in 1941, won the 1951 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, for "discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements." He served as chairman of the Atomic Energy Committee from 1961-1971, where he pushed for commercial nuclear energy and the peaceful applications of nuclear science. Dr. Seaborg contributed to the discovery of ten elements: plutonium; americium; curium; berkelium; californium; einsteinium; fermium; mendelevium; nobelium; and element 106, which was named seaborgium in his honour during his lifetime.

Crime
John William King, a self-described white supremacist, was sentenced to death by lethal injection by the same jury that had convicted him two days earlier of murder in the death of James Byrd, Jr., a Negro who had been seized by Mr. King and two others, tied to the back of a truck, and dragged to his death along rural roads near Jasper, Texas.

February 24, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kavis Reed!

270 years ago
1739

War
The army of Iranian ruler Nader Shah defeated the forces of Mughal Emperor of India Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal in Punjab.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
George Robson. U.K.-born U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Robson was born in England before moving to Ontario and eventually settling in Indiana. He participated in three Indianapolis 500s, winning in 1946. Just over three months later, at the age of 37, he was killed when his car collided with that of George Barringer, who was also killed, during the Atlanta 100 on September 2, 1946.

August Derleth. U.S. writer. Mr. Derleth wrote more than 100 books and 150 short stories, as well as poems and essays. He was best known for the novels, non-fiction, and poetry that comprised the Sac Prairie Saga, inspired by his home town of Sauk City, Wisconsin. Mr. Derleth also created the fictional detective Solar Pons, a pastiche of Sherlock Holmes, who was the subject of 70 short stories and a novel. Mr. Derleth died of a heart attack on July 4, 1971 at the age of 62.

Riccardo Freda. Egyptian-born Italian film director and screenwriter. Mr. Freda wrote and/or directed movies in various genres in a career spanning almost 60 years. His films included I Vampiri (1957); The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962); and Revenge of the Musketeers (1994). Mr. Freda died on December 20, 1999 at the age of 90.

80 years ago
1929

Died on this date
André Messager, 75. French composer and conductor. Mr. Messager wrote eight ballets and 30 comic operas, operettas, and other works. His best-known works included the ballet Les Deux Pigeons (1886) and the comic opera Véronique (1898). As a conductor, Mr. Messager was best known for the premiere performance of Pelléas et Mélisande (1902) by Claude Debussy. Mr. Messager died after a short illness.

60 years ago
1949

Movies
Hamlet, directed by and starring Laurence Olivier, won the BAFTA award as the Best Film from Any Source.

Space
The United States launched the sounding rocket Bumper 5 from White Sands Proving Grounds in White Sands, New Mexico; the mission was a success.

War
The Armistice Agreements were signed in Rhodes, formally ending the hostilities of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Nationalist Chinese peace envoys met with Communist leaders Mao Tse-tung and Chou En-lai at Communist headquarters near Peking. U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson met with 30 Republican congressmen who were demanding greater aid to the Nationalist Chinese government; he refused to promise any change in U.S. policy toward China.

Yugoslavian Deputy Foreign Minister Ales Beber offered to reduce his country's demands on Austria at a London conference on the Austrian peace treaty.

Diplomacy
Pro-Soviet U.S. writer Anna Louise Strong arrived in New York after being deported from the U.S.S.R. on espionage charges.

Defense
The U.S. Air Force displayed a prototype of its newest jet fighter, the Republic XF-91, designed to fly at 700-900 miles per hour for high-altitude interception.

Oil
The U.S. Commerce Department lifted a 10-month restriction against exports of steel from completion of the 1,067-mile Trans-Arabian pipeline from Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean Sea.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee passed a bipartisan bill providing $1.8 billion in grants, loans, and direct contributions for construction of low-cost public housing.

50 years ago
1959

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Epilogue, starring Julie Adams, Charles Aidman, Charles Herbert, and William Schallert



Diplomacy
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev warned that if the West refused to sign a peace treaty with the two German states, the U.S.S.R. would negotiate a separate pact with East Germany and terminate its occupation functions in Berlin.

Oddities
American Airlines pilot Peter Killian saw what appeared to be three flying saucers accompanying his plane en route to Detroit from Newark; his sightings were substantiated by pilots of two other planes in the vicinity.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Blue Light Yokohama--Ayumi Ishida (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Eloise--Barry Ryan (6th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
2 Everyday People--Sly & the Family Stone
3 Touch Me--The Doors
4 Can I Change My Mind--Tyrone Davis
5 Worst that Could Happen--Brooklyn Bridge
6 You Showed Me--The Turtles
7 Games People Play--Joe South
8 This Magic Moment--Jay and the Americans
9 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
10 These Eyes--The Guess Who?

Singles entering the chart were I Don't Know Why by Stevie Wonder (#68); Shotgun by the Vanilla Fudge (#71); The Weight by Aretha Franklin (#77); Albatross by Fleetwood Mac (#80); When He Touches Me (Nothing Else Matters) by Peaches and Herb (#83); Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show by Neil Diamond (#84); Back Door Man by Derek (#87); Soul Experience by Iron Butterfly (#89); King Size by Jayson Hoover (#92); My Deceiving Heart by the Impressions (#94); Snatching it Back by Clarence Carter (#95); I Like What You're Doing (To Me) by Carla Thomas (#96); Anything You Choose by Spanky and Our Gang (#97); Put the Torch to Me by Marquis (#98); Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' by Crazy Elephant (#99); and Twenty-Five Miles by Edwin Starr (#100).

Space
The United States launched Mariner 6 from Cape Kennedy, Florida; the probe was destined to fly by Mars in late July.

War
Israeli jets bombed two alleged guerrilla camps used as bases by Al Fatah on the Damascus-Beirut road in Syria, and claimed that hundreds of commandos were caught in the 30-minute strike and that two Syrian planes had been downed. The Israeli air strike was in retaliation for 12 terrorist attacks on Israeli-held Golan Heights from Syrian bases during the previous two weeks.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon continued his European trip with a visit to London. He was met by British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and had lunch with Queen Elizabeth II.

France declared that it would refuse to attend any meetings of the Western European Union until the WEU Permanent Council agreed to her condition that all meetings be called unanimously.

Politics and government
Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O'Neill fell short in an effort to win a mandate for his moderate reform program aimed at meeting civil rights demands of Ulster's Roman Catholic minority in the N.I. general election. Although Mr. O'Neill's Ulster Unionist Party won 36 of 52 seats in the House of Commons, the UUP was split into pro-O'Neill and anti-O'Neill factions, with 13 of the UUP's 36 seats going to the anti-O'Neill faction. The Nationalist Party, led by Eddie McAteer, was next with 6 seats. Mr. O'Neill retained his seat in the rural riding of Bannside with 7,745 votes to 6,631 for Protestant leader Rev. Ian Paisley.

Academia
Students at Pennsylvania State University occupied the administration building. U.S. President Nixon wrote a letter of praise to University of Notre Dame president Theodore Hesburgh endorsing Rev. Hesburgh's "get tough" policy on student protesters.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): My Life--Billy Joel

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Mi scappa la pipì, papà--Pippo Franco (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Chiquitita--ABBA (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Heart of Glass--Blondie (4th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 (You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back--Peter Tosh (support vocals: Mick Jagger) (3rd week at #1)
2 Chiquitita--ABBA
3 You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)--Meat Loaf
4 'k Heb Hele Grote Bloemkoole--André Van Duin (als Meneer De Bok)
5 Le Freak--Chic
6 Now that We Found Love--Third World
7 How You Gonna See Me Now--Alice Cooper
8 Every Time I Think of You--The Babys
9 Fire!--Pointer Sisters
10 Ik Ben Verliefd Op John Travolta--Sandy

Singles entering the chart were Tragedy by the Bee Gees (#21); The Runner by the Three Degrees (#29); Save the Last Dance for Me by Jerry Lee Lewis and Friends (#30); Let's Start the Dance by Bohannon (#32); and Ruthless Queen by Kayak (#33).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart (3rd week at #1)
2 Fire--Pointer Sisters
3 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
4 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
5 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
6 Tragedy--Bee Gees
7 Le Freak--Chic
8 Lotta Love--Nicolette Larson
9 Somewhere in the Night--Barry Manilow
10 I was Made for Dancin'--Leif Garrett

Singles entering the chart were Watch Out for Lucy by Eric Clapton and his Band (#77); It Hurts So Bad by Kim Carnes (#78); Love Ballad by George Benson (#81); Roxanne by the Police (#82); You Can't Win (Part 1) by Michael Jackson (#83); Call Out My Name by Zwol (#85); Stay the Night by the Faragher Brothers (#88); Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop) by Parliament (#89); Make it Last by Brooklyn Dreams (#90); Can You Read My Mind by Maureen McGovern (#92); This is It by Dan Hartman (#93); and Heartaches by BTO (#94). Can You Read My Mind was from the movie Superman (1978).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart (4th week at #1)
2 Fire--Pointer Sisters
3 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
4 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
5 Le Freak--Chic
6 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
7 Heaven Knows--Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
8 Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees
9 Shake Your Groove Thing--Peaches & Herb
10 Shake It--Ian Matthews

Singles entering the chart were Love Ballad by George Benson (#83); I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get it Girl) by Instant Funk (#84); Stay the Night by the Faragher Brothers (#86); Blow Away by George Harrison (#88); Our Love is Insane by Desmond Child and Rouge (#96); and Love Struck by Stonebolt (#98).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
2 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
3 Fire--Pointer Sisters
4 Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees
5 Lotta Love--Nicolette Larson
6 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
7 Every 1's a Winner--Hot Chocolate
8 Shake It--Ian Matthews
9 My Life--Billy Joel
10 Somewhere in the Night--Barry Manilow

Singles entering the chart were Giving Up, Giving In by the Three Degrees (#92); Pick on Me by Dan Hill (#96); Instant Replay by Dan Hartman (#97); and For Your Love by Chilly (#100).

Defense
U.S. President Jimmy Carter named Army Chief of Staff General Bernard H. Rogers to succeed General Alexander Haig as commander of United States forces in Europe and Supreme Commander of NATO forces.

Scandal
Joshua Eilberg, former Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania, was fined $10,000 and sentenced to 5 years' probation after pleading to charges that while in office he illegally accepted money for helping his former law firm obtain a $14.5 million grant for a Philadelphia hospital.

Disasters
A coal gas explosion ripped through Number 26 Colliery in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, killing 12 men.

Hockey
NHL
Detroit 1 @ New York Islanders 3
St. Louis 4 @ Montreal 6
New York Rangers 4 @ Toronto 2
Boston 4 @ Vancouver 3

Islanders' right wing Mike Bossy reached the 50-goal mark for the second consecutive season when he knocked in his second goal of the night in his team's win over the Wings at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

25 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Maggie--Foster and Allen (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Tyrone Mitchell, 28. U.S. criminal. Mr. Mitchell killed two children and injured 12 more in a shooting at the 49th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles before turning the gun on himself. He had suffered a nervous breakdown when his parents, four sisters, and a brother had died in the mass suicide of the People's Temple cult in Jonestown, Guyana on November 18, 1978.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that the consumer price index had increased 0.6% in January, the largest increase since April 1983.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): First Time--Robin Beck (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Sparky Adams, 94. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Adams was an infielder with the Chicago Cubs (1922-1927); Pittsburgh Pirates (1928-1929); St. Louis Cardinals (1930-1933); and Cincinnati Reds (1933-1934), batting .286 with 9 home runs and 394 runs batted in in 1,424 games. He hit .314 with the Cardinals when they won the National League pennant in 1930, and .293 with a league-leading 46 doubles as the Cardinals won the World Series in 1931. Mr. Adams was, at 5' 4 1/2", the shortest player in the major leagues during his career, and was the last surviving member of the Cardinals' 1931 World Series championship team.

Music
John O'Conor finished recording the album Nocturnes of John Field at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts.

World events
48 days after his death, Japan's Emperor Hirohito was buried in Tokyo in a day-long Shinto ceremony. 160 countries were represented, and 55 heads of state were in attendance, including U.S. President George Bush.

Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa offered a $3-million bounty for the death of British novelist Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses (1988), deemed to be disrespectful to the prophet Muhammad.

Protest
Indian police shot and killed 12 people and wounded 40 during a riot in Bombay against Salman Rushdie.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board increased its discount rate--the rate on loans paid by financial institutions--from 6.5% to 7.0%, the highest level in almost three years.

Disasters
United Airlines Flight 811, a Boeing 747-122 jet bound for Auckland from Honolulu, suffered a cargo door failure 16 minutes after takeoff, blowing 9 passengers out of the business-class section to their deaths.

10 years ago
1999

Scandal
In a television interview broadcast this night, Juanita Broaddrick claimed that U.S. President Bill Clinton had raped her in a Little Rock hotel room in April 1978 while she was attending a nurses' conference.

Law
The Macpherson Report into the 1993 murder of Negro teenager Stephen Lawrence in London stated that the Metropolitan Police force was "institutionally racist," and condemned officers for "fundamental errors." Mr. Lawrence was stabbed to death by white youths at a London bus stop, but charges charges were dropped because of lack of evidence, and a later private prosecution by Mr. Lawrence's parents was similarly unsuccessful.