February 9, 2010

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Heather Blacklock!

950 years ago
1060

Born on this date
Honorius II. Roman Catholic Pope, 1124-1130. Honorius II, born Lamberto Scannabecchi, rose through the ecclesiastical hierarchy because of outstanding intellect and other abilities, finally succeeding Callixtus II as Pope. Honorius II was the first pope to confirm the election of the Holy Roman Emperor, and approved the Knights Templar in 1128. He distrusted the Benedictine order, and favoured new monastic orders such as the Augustinians and Cistercians. Pope Honorius II died on February 13, 1130, four days after his 70th birthday, after almost a year-long period of illness. His death plunged the Roman Catholic Church into confusion; he was succeeded by Innocent II, but antipope Anacletus II also claimed the throne.

370 years ago
1640

Died on this date
Murad IV, 27. Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1623-1640. Murad IV was brought to power by a palace conspiracy in 1623, succeeding his uncle Mustafa I at the age of 11. Sultan Murad began exercising power when he was a teenager, and became an absolute monarch, executing four of his brothers and his brother-in-law, and widely using execution as punishment. Almost all of Muriad IV's reign was taken up by the Ottoman–Safavid War (1623–39), which finally resulted in an Ottoman victory, recapturing Baghad and most of what is now Iraq. Sultan Murad IV died of cirrhosis of the liver, and was succeeded by his brother Ibrahim.

340 years ago
1670

Died on this date
Frederik III, 60. King of Denmark and Norway, 1648-1670. Frederik III was the second son of King Christian IV, but became first in line for the throne after his older brother Prince Christian died in 1647. King Frederik III made significant concessions to the nobility in order to be elected King, but after presiding over a victorious war against Sweden in 1659-1660, he instituted an absolute monarchy, which lasted until 1848. King Frederik III was succeeded on the throne by his son Christian V.

240 years ago
1770

Born on this date
Ferdinando Carulli. Italian composer. Mr. Carulli was a classical guitarist who composed more than 400 works for the instrument, including chamber works and several concertos. He died on February 17, 1841, eight days after his 71st birthday.

210 years ago
1800

Born on this date
Hyrum Smith. U.S. religious leader. Mr. Smith was an early follower of his younger brother Joseph, a con man who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. Hyrum eventually became Assistant President of the church, which began in New York state and moved westward to Illinois, accompanied by various scams. On June 27, 1844, Hyrum, 44, and Joseph, 38, along with apostles John Taylor and Willard Richards, were being held at the jail in Carthage, Illinois, when a mob of 60-200 dissident Saints descended on the jail. A shootout resulted, resulting in the deaths of the Smith brothers and the wounding of Mr. Taylor.

140 years ago
1870

Weather
U.S. President U.S. Grant signed a joint resolution of Congress establishing the U.S. Weather Bureau, under the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

110 years ago
1900

Tennis
The Davis Cup competition was established by Dwight F. Davis.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Jacques Monod. French biologist and geneticist. Dr. Monod shared the 1965 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with François Jacob and Andre Lwoff "for their discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis." He died on May 31, 1976 at the age of 66.

90 years ago
1920

Diplomacy
The Svalbard Treaty was signed in Paris, recognizing Norwegian sovereignty over the Arctic archipelago Svalbard, and designating it as demilitarized.

70 years ago
1940

Died on this date
William Dodd, 70. U.S. historian and diplomat. Mr. Dodd, a native of North Carolina, spent most of his academic career at the University of Chicago, where he taught and wrote about the American South. A liberal Democrat, he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Germany by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, serving from 1933-1937. Mr. Todd took up his position seven months after Adolf Hitler had taken office as Chancellor of Germany, and thus was a witness to the early years of the Nazi regime. Mr. Dodd's attitude toward the Nazis became increasingly negative, but he became the subject of criticism by some American politicians and his health declined, so he left Germany in the last few days of 1937.

War
Chinese sources claimed that Japanese forces had failed to encircle and force the surrender of Chinese troops in the Nanning sector of China.

Diplomacy
Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Hachirō Arita claimed that the Anti-Comintern Pact had lost its vitality because of the 1939 Soviet-German non-aggression pact.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt directed Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles to visit Italy, France, Germany, and Britain for the purpose of assessing the present state of the European war and prospects for peace.

Politics and government
U.S. Vice President John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner and New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia entered the Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively, in Illinois for the 1940 campaign for President of the United States.

The United States Senate approved the assignment of isolationist Senator Gerald Nye (Republican--North Dakota) to the Foreign Relations Committee.

Labour
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt charged that United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis had refused to resume peace talks with American Federation of Labor President William Green.

Boxing
Joe Louis (41-1) retained his world heavyweight title with a 15-round split decision over Arturo Godoy (52-10-7) at Madison Square Garden in New York.



60 years ago
1950

On television tonight
Escape, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Whappernocker Song, starring Lee Marvin, Ralph Riggs, and Peggy Wagner

Died on this date
Ted Theodore, 65. Australian politician. Mr. Theodore, a member of the Labour Party, represented Chillagoe (1909-1912) and Woothakata (1912-1925) in the Queensland Legislative Assembly. He was Premier of Queensland (1919-1925), also serving as state Treasurer (1915-1920, 1922-1925). Mr. Theodore then entered federal politics, representing Dalley in the Australian House of Representatives (1927-1931). He was named Treasurer in the government of Prime Minister James Scullin in October 1929, but was forced to resign in July 1930 amidst accusations of corruption dating back to his time as Premier of Queensland. Mr. Theodore was restored to his position as Treasurer in January 1931, but lost his seat in the general election in December 1931. He left politics and had a successful career as a newspaper publisher in Australia and as a gold magnate in Fiji. Mr. Theodore developed a serious heart condition in later years, and died after several days in a coma.

Divorced on this date
Actress Ingrid Bergman won a divorce from Dr. Peter Lindstrom in Juarez, Mexico, freeing her to marry director Roberto Rossellini.

U.S. actors John Payne and Gloria De Haven were divorced in Hollywood.

Scandal
U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican--Wisconsin) made a speech in Wheeling, West Virginia in which he accused the U.S. State Department of being riddled with Communists. The occasion was a Lincoln Day address to the Ohio County Women's Republican Club.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman told a news conference that the U.S.S.R.'s diplomatic bargaining power was now equal to that of the U.S.A., since the Soviet Union now apparently had the atomic bomb.

Defense
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission issued directions on how to design above-ground buildings to minimize damage from atomic bombs.

Economics and finance
Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in Japan General Douglas MacArthur gave Japan permission to establish trade missions in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate a compromise bill providing for economic aid to South Korea and Taiwan.

Labour
U.S. Federal Judge Richmond Keech ruled in Washington that four United Mine Workers of America demands in the current coal dispute, including provisions allowing miners to work only when they were "willing and able" and to stop work for "memorial periods," were illegal.

50 years ago
1960

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Day the World Wept--The Lincoln Story, starring Barry Atwater and Jeanne Bates



Died on this date
Ernst von Dohnányi, 82. Hungarian-born musician, composer, and conductor. Mr. Dohnányi had a successful career as a concert pianist before becoming music director of the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. He was director of the Budapest Academy of Music from 1934-1943, resisting Nazi influences. Mr. Dohnányi moved to the United States after World War II, and eventually became an American citizen. He taught and conducted at Florida State University from 1949 until his death, which occurred several days after suffering a heart attack during a recording session in New York City. Mr. Dohnányi's compositions included two symphonies, piano works, and other chamber and instrumental works.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head--Johnny Farnham (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kuroneko no Tango--Osamu Minagawa (17th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Venus--The Shocking Blue

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight’s episode: A Clapper for the Bell

Diplomacy
Spanish Foreign Minister Gregorio Lopez Bravo began three days of meetings with French officials in the first official visit to France of a Spanish foreign minister since World War II.

World events
Five Arab states meeting in Cairo issued a communiqué in which they promised to continue fighting for the recovery of lands occupied by Israel, and blamed the United States for Israel’s refusal to give up the lands. Alluding to profitable American oil investments, the statement warned that the Arabs would not let their "resources and wealth" be exploited to aid Israel.

Society
U.S. Senator Abraham Ribicoff (Democrat--Connecticut) called on northern liberals to drop their "monumental hypocrisy" and concede that de facto segregation existed in the north. The speech, considered one of the strongest denunciations of northern segregation by a northern Democrat, was hailed by Senate conservatives of both parties.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Remi, Le Sue Avventure--I Ragazzi Di Remi (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): I Have a Dream--ABBA (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Too Much Too Young (EP)--The Special A.K.A. featuring Rico (The Specials)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Too Much Too Young (EP)--The Special A.K.A. featuring Rico (The Specials) (2nd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Rapper's Delight--Sugarhill Gang (2nd week at #1)
2 Rap-O Clap-O--Joe Bataan
3 Nederland, Die Heeft De Bal--André Van Duin & Het Nederlands Elftal
4 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
5 I Have a Dream--ABBA
6 Crying--Don McLean
7 Fly Too High--Janis Ian
8 It Will Come in Time--Billy Preston and Syreeta
9 Que Sera Mi Vida--Gibson Brothers
10 On My Radio--The Selecter

Singles entering the chart were Save Me by Queen (#25); It's All Rite... by Barbara Markay (#30); I Hear You Now by Jon and Vangelis (#32); Brass in Pocket by the Pretenders (#35); Oei, Oei, Dat Was Lekker! by Sjef Van Oekel (#36); and Mono by the Monotones (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Rock with You--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)
2 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
3 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
4 Cruisin'--Smokey Robinson
5 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
6 Yes, I'm Ready--Teri DeSario with K.C.
7 Sara--Fleetwood Mac
8 The Long Run--Eagles
9 Longer--Dan Fogelberg
10 Don't Do Me Like That--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Singles entering the chart were Baby Talks Dirty by the Knack (#73); And the Beat Goes On by the Whispers (#79); Lost in Love by Air Supply (#81); Even it Up by Heart (#82); Where Does the Lovin' Go by David Gates (#85); My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys by Willie Nelson (#87); I Shoulda Loved Ya by Narada Michael Walden (#89); and I Like to Rock by April Wine (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
2 Cruisin'--Smokey Robinson
3 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
4 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
5 Rock With You--Michael Jackson
6 Sara--Fleetwood Mac
7 Don't Do Me Like That--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
8 This is It--Kenny Loggins
9 Yes, I'm Ready--Teri DeSario with K.C.
10 Longer--Dan Fogelberg

Singles entering the chart were Baby Talks Dirty by the Knack (#63); Ride Like the Wind by Christopher Cross (#84); Even it Up by Heart (#88); Lost in Love by Air Supply (#90); I Like to Rock by April Wine (#94); Small Paradise by John Cougar (#95); and Computer Game "Theme from the Circus" by Yellow Magic Orchestra (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Record World)
1 Do That to Me One More Time--Captain & Tennille
2 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen
3 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
4 Yes, I'm Ready--Teri DeSario with K.C.
5 Cruisin'--Smokey Robinson
6 Rock With You--Michael Jackson
7 Sara--Fleetwood Mac
8 Don't Do Me Like That--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
9 Longer--Dan Fogelberg
10 This is It--Kenny Loggins

Singles entering the chart were Baby Talks Dirty by the Knack (#72); Even it Up by Heart (#83); Lost in Love by Air Supply (#84); The Hardest Part by Blondie (#86); The Spirit of Radio by Rush (#88); My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys by Willie Nelson (#93); Fire in the Morning by Melissa Manchester (#97); Computer Game "Theme from the Circus" by Yellow Magic Orchestra (#98); and All Around by America (#99).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Coward of the County--Kenny Rogers
2 Please Don't Go--KC & the Sunshine Band
3 Rapper's Delight--Sugarhill Gang
4 Don't Do Me Like That--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
5 We Don't Talk Anymore--Cliff Richard
6 Message in a Bottle--The Police
7 Babe--Styx
8 Escape (The Pina Colada Song)--Rupert Holmes
9 The Long Run--Eagles
10 Rock With You--Michael Jackson

Singles entering the chart were The Spirit of Radio by Rush (#80); Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) by Pink Floyd (#91); Him by Rupert Holmes (#92); How Do I Make You by Linda Ronstadt (#93); Looks Like Love Again by Dann Rogers (#97); Tokyo by Bruce Cockburn (#98); and Making Plans for Nigel by XTC (#100).

Diplomacy
As it was trying to coordinate the Western response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the U.S.A. criticized France for "rapid shifts" in policy. Tensions between the U.S. and Europe were worsening as the U.S. was pressuring Europe to give up some of the benefits of détente with the U.S.S.R. by cutting exports. Western European governments were criticizing the erratic character of recent U.S. policy, and the failure of the U.S. to consult European nations.

Hockey
NHL
Vancouver 4 Montreal 3

25 years ago
1985

Hit parade
U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Easy Lover--Philip Bailey with Phil Collins
2 I Want to Know What Love Is--Foreigner
3 Careless Whisper--Wham!
4 You're the Inspiration--Chicago
5 Like a Virgin--Madonna
6 All I Need--Jack Wagner
7 The Boys of Summer--Don Henley
8 Loverboy--Billy Ocean
9 Run to You--Bryan Adams
10 California Girls--David Lee Roth

Singles entering the chart were Just Another Night by Mick Jagger (#30); One More Night by Phil Collins (#40); Material Girl by Madonna (#42); and Take Me with U by Prince and the Revolution (with Apollonia) (#60).

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 6 Montreal 2

20 years ago
1990

Scandal
Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan agreed to give videotaped testimony for use in the trial of John Poindexter, his former national security adviser, who was on trial for his role in the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages deal.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that producer prices for finished goods had risen 1.8% in January, the largest monthly increase since November 1974. The sharp rise was primarily the result of a jump in heating oil prices during very cold weather.

10 years ago
2000

World events
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which had been engaged in a 15-year struggle for Kurdish independence from Turkey, announced that it had abandoned efforts to win its goal by force, and said that it would work peacefully for independence. The party’s leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who was in prison under a death sentence, had appealed for an end to armed resistance.

Crime
Disruption of the activities of several popular U.S. web sites ended after two days. The Federal Bureau of Investigation began an investigation.

Labour
Half of the social service workers in Newfoundland walked off the job illegally to protest low wages and a crushing workload. The strike came less than a week after the province’s private ambulance operators had parked their backup vehicles for a day to push for a better budget proposal from the government.