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