April 1, 2009

220 years ago
1789

Politics and government
In New York City, the United States House of Representatives held its first quorum and elected Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as its first Speaker.

190 years ago
1819

Born on this date
Vikramatji Khimojiraj. Indian ruler. RanaShri Vikramatji Khimojiraj Sahib succeeded his father Khimojiraj Haloji as Maharaja of Porbandar in 1831, and ruled the princely state until his death on April 21, 1900, 20 days after his 81st birthday. He was succeeded by his grandson Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji.

170 years ago
1839

Died on this date
Benjamin Pierce, 81. U.S. politician. Mr. Pierce, a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, was Governor of New Hampshire from 1827-1828 and 1829-1830.

120 years ago
1889

Academia
The University of Northern Colorado was established, as the Colorado State Normal School.

100 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Eddy Duchin. U.S. musician. Mr. Duchin was a jazz pianist who performed with Leo Reisman's band before leading a band of his own, achieving commercial success in the 1930s and '40s as a "sweet" band. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, but was unable to regain his musical popularity after the war. Mr. Duchin died of leukemia on February 9, 1951 at the age of 41.

Abner Biberman. U.S. actor and director. Mr. Biberman played small roles in movies such as Gunga Din (1939) and The Roaring Twenties (1939). He directed several films, but was more active in television, where his work included four episodes of The Twilight Zone (1962-1964). Mr. Biberman died on June 20, 1977 at the age of 68.

70 years ago
1939

War
Generalíssimo Francisco Franco of the Spanish State announced the end of the Spanish Civil War, as the last of the Republican forces surrendered.

Transportation
Trans-Canada Airlines began scheduled transnational passenger service between Vancouver and Montréal, with stops in Ottawa, North Bay, Kapuskasing, Winnipeg, Regina and Lethbridge. The flight took 15 hours.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Boston 1 @ New York Rangers 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)
Detroit 4 @ Toronto 5 (OT) (Toronto won best-of-three series 2-1)

Gordie Drillon scored his second goal of the game at 5:42 of the 1st overtime period to give the Maple Leafs their win over the Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens.

60 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Your Show Time, hosted and narrated by Arthur Shields, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Tenor, starring Julie Adams, Carol Brannon, Hugo Haas, and Lee Patrick

War
The Chinese Communist Party held unsuccessful peace talks with the Nationalist Party in Peking (Beijing), after three years of fighting in the Chinese Civil War.

Politics and government
Joey Smallwood, leader of the pro-Confederation movement, was sworn in as the first Premier of Newfoundland as a Canadian province, by Albert J. Walsh, Newfoundland's first Lieutenant Governor. In Ottawa, Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent gave a speech welcoming Newfoundland to Confederation, and introduced Gordon Bradley, the first federal cabinet minister from Newfoundland, who was sworn in to the Privy Council and became Secretary of State of Canada. Mr. Bradley and St. Laurent also cut the first ceremonial chisel strokes onto a blank stone in Parliament that featured the Newfoundland Coat of arms.

The U.S. Hoover Commission on Reorganization of the Executive Branch issued its final report, attacking inefficiency in the administration of government business enterprises and urging the elimination of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, the Farmers Home Administration, and other agencies.

Society
The Government of Canada repealed Japanese-Canadian internment after seven years.

Education
New York Governor Thomas Dewey signed a bill ordering the State Board of Regents to eliminate "subversive" employees from public schools.

Economics and finance
Argentina revoked its agreement to supply most of the United Kingdom's meat imports, demanding higher prices.

The U.S. Senate passed a House of Representatives-approved bill providing $45.6 million in loans to farmers and ranchers in storm-stricken Western states.

50 years ago
1959

At the movies
Compulsion, directed by Richard Fleischer, and starring Orson Welles, Diane Varsi, Dean Stockwell, and Bradford Dillman, opened in theatres.



Diplomacy
The Western foreign ministers meeting in Washington issued a final communique reiterating their refusal to accept the U.S.S.R.'s unilateral repudiation of its Berlin obligations or the substitution of East Germans for Soviet representatives in carrying out these obligations.

Defense
The Syrian Army partially mobilized and the Jordanian Army's general staff met in emergency session, following orders for a test mobilization of three Israeli Army reserve units.

U.S.S.R. authorities in East Berlin claimed that the 10,000-foot ceiling on Western flights to Berlin had the force of a "prescriptive right," warning that "there may be incidents if the Americans fly above the altitude again without negotiating."

Abominations
Dispatches from India reported that Communist Chinese troops had deported up to 15,000 Tibetans from Lhasa for forced labour.

Politics and government
Meade Alcorn resigned as U.S. Republican National Committee Chairman to return to his law practice in Connecticut.

Transportation
The St. Lawrence Seaway opened for business; it was officially dedicated on June 26 by Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Law
Charles Edward Rivett-Carnac was appointed Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; he served until March 31, 1960.

40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Atlantis--Donovan (2nd week at #1)

Defense
The Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first operational fighter aircraft with Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing capabilities, entered service with the U.K. Royal Air Force.

Politics and government
The Canadian government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau created the Department of Regional Economic Expansion, with Jean Marchand as its first minister. The department was created in order to contribute to the revival of regions that were facing economic difficulties.

The ninth congress of the Chinese Communist Party opened in Peking, and immediately named party Chairman Mao Tse-Tung and defense Minister Lin Piao as leaders of the 176-member presidium that would direct its work. Premier Chou En-lai was elected secretary-general. Others elected to the presidium included Mao's wife, Chiang Ching; Lin's wife, Yeh Chun; Army chief of staff Huang Yung-sheng; foreign minister Chen Yi; and five army marshals, all of whom had been denounced at one time during the cultural revolution. The congress opened eight years later than scheduled.

Law
A United States Court in Boston declared unconstitutional a section of the Selective Service Act of 1967 under which religion was the only basis for conscientious objection. The court ruled that Congress discriminated against those who were atheists, agnostics, or had deep moral objections as the basis of their beliefs.

Society
Québec legalized civil marriages.

Hockey
CHL
Adams Cup
Quarter-Finals
Kansas City 0 @ Omaha 7 (Omaha won best-of-five series 3-1)

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Tragedy--Bee Gees (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Heart of Glass--Blondie

Diplomacy
The Israeli cabinet formally ratified the peace treaty with Egypt.

Abominations
In the cruelest April Fool's joke ever played on the people of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini declared Iran to be an Islamic republic, officially overthrowing the Shah, after a referendum resulted in a vote of 99% in favour of the move.

Scandal
Former Congressman Otto Passman was found not guilty by a jury in Monroe, Louisiana of accepting bribes from South Korean rice dealer Tongsun Park.

Environment
U.S. President Jimmy Carter visited the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania. Mr. Carter and his advisers stressed that the situation was stable, but evacuation remained a possibility.

Communications
The cost of mailing a letter in Canada increased from 14c to 17c.

Oil
The Canadian National Energy Board raised the export tax on light crude oil $1.00 per barrel to $8.00.

Labour
The trucking industry in the United States locked out 300,000 Teamsters as the union called for selective nationwide strikes after rejecting a tentative three-year contract.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 3 @ Boston 3
Toronto 6 @ Buffalo 3

25 years ago
1984

Died on this date
Elizabeth Goudge, 83. U.K. authoress. Miss Goudge wrote novels, short stories, children's books, and non-fiction, and won the Carnegie Medal for British children's books for The Little White Horse (1946). She died 24 days before her 84th birthday.

Marvin Gaye, 44. U.S. musician. Mr. Gaye was one of Motown Corporation's major stars in the 1960s and '70s. He began as a session drummer and then achieved success as a singer and songwriter from 1962 through the late 1970s. His biggest hit was I Heard it Through the Grapevine, which spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in late 1968-early 1969. Mr. Gaye's 1971 album What's Going On is regarded as one of the best albums ever recorded. Mr. Gaye also had success in performing duets with Tammi Terrell, Mary Wells, Kim Weston, and Diana Ross. He officially left Motown in 1982 and recorded for Columbia Records; Sexual Healing was a major comeback hit for Mr. Gaye in late 1982-early 1983, and earned him a Grammy Award. Drug use contributed to his personal decline and years of family conflict culminated in Mr. Gaye being fatally shot by his father; he died the day before his 45th birthday.

20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Esatto--Francesco Salvi (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): I Only Wanna Be with You--Samantha Fox (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Alles kan een mens gelukkig maken--René Froger (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Pour toi Arménie--Charles Aznavour and various artists (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Like a Prayer--Madonna (2nd week at #1)

Austria's top 10 (Ö3)
1 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals (3rd week at #1)
2 Das Phantom der Oper--Alexander Goebel & Luzia Nistler
3 Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney
4 Twist in My Sobriety--Tanita Tikaram
5 In the Air Tonight ('88 Remix)--Phil Collins
6 Listen to the Voices--Labi Siffre
7 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
8 You Got It--Roy Orbison
9 Like a Prayer--Madonna
10 First Time--Robin Beck

Singles entering the chart were Like a Prayer; Leave Me Alone by Michael Jackson (#24); and Ballad of the Streets by Simple Minds (#28).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Eternal Flame--Bangles
2 Girl You Know it's True--Milli Vanilli
3 The Look--Roxette
4 My Heart Can't Tell You No--Rod Stewart
5 The Living Years--Mike + the Mechanics
6 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals
7 Walk the Dinosaur--Was (Not Was)
8 Stand--R.E.M.
9 Dreamin'--Vanessa Williams
10 Lost in Your Eyes--Debbie Gibson

Singles entering the chart were Electric Youth by Debbie Gibson (#62); I'll Be Loving You (Forever) by New Kids on the Block (#68); Buffalo Stance by Neneh Cherry (#83); When Love Comes to Town by U2 with B.B. King (#89); Come Out Fighting by Easterhouse (#91); Baby Baby by Eighth Wonder (#93); and Repetition by Information Society (#94).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Eternal Flame--Bangles
2 Girl You Know it's True--Milli Vanilli
3 The Look--Roxette
4 My Heart Can't Tell You No--Rod Stewart
5 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals
6 The Living Years--Mike + the Mechanics
7 Walk the Dinosaur--Was (Not Was)
8 Paradise City--Guns 'N' Roses
9 You're Not Alone--Chicago
10 Dreamin'--Vanessa Williams

Singles entering the chart were Electric Youth by Debbie Gibson (#60); I'll Be Loving You (Forever) by New Kids on the Block (#65); Downtown by One 2 Many (#74); Walking Through Walls by Escape Club (#80); The Different Story (World Of Lust And Crime) by Peter Schilling (#82); Come Out Fighting by Easterhouse (#85); When Love Comes to Town by U2 with B.B. King (#87); and Every Little Step by Bobby Brown (#89).

Economics and finance
The British government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher introduced a new local government tax, the Community Charge (commonly known as the "poll tax"), in Scotland.

Hockey
NHL
Philadelphia 2 @ Montreal 2

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Jesse Stone, 97. U.S. musician. Mr. Stone was a rhythm and blues pianist, songwriter, producer, and arranger, who was active from the late 1920s through the 1950s, and has been credited with helping to create the sound of rock and roll. He wrote songs such as Shake, Rattle and Roll, Flip, Flop and Fly, and Don't Let Go under his own name or using the pseudonym Charles Calhoun.

Abominations
Nunavut, formerly part of the Northwest Territories, came into existence as a separate Canadian territory. Prime Minister Jean Chretien was among those on hand to observe the event in the territorial capital of Iqaluit. The territory, whose population of 25,000 (spread throughout 820,000 square miles) was mostly Inuit, was created ostensibly for the purpose of granting the Inuit more autonomy in exchange for the Inuit dropping land claims against the federal government. In reality, the creation of Nunavut just added another layer of bureaucracy, and the social problems that existed before were, and are, still around. Nunavut has been a disaster, which is exactly what knowledgeable people, including this blogger, predicted. The late Justice Jack Sissons criticized the first attempt at the creation of a third territory in the early 1960s as a move by the "bright boys" in Ottawa to increase their power.

Politics and government
Paul Okalik was sworn in as the first Premier of Nunavut.

War
The Serbian news agency reported that three captured American soldiers would be tried by a military court. Another report concluded that the Serbs had killed 800 ethnic Albanians in the past week.

Crime
New Jersey resident David L. Smith was arrested and charged with originating the "Melissa" email virus, which infected more than a million computers worldwide.

Business
The merger of British Petroleum PLC and the Amoco Corporation was announced, to be known as BP Amoco PLC, with annual revenues expected to approach $100 billion. The new company said that it now planned to acquire the American firm Atlantic Richfield Coompany. The merger was expected to cost 2,000 employees, most of them Americans, their jobs. The new company would rank first in oil and gas production in Great Britain and the United States.

Labour
A legally-binding minimum wage was introduced in Britain for the first time. Effective immediately, all adults were to be paid at least £3.60 per hour, and workers under the age of 22 were to get no less than £3 per hour.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 5 Edmonton 1