December 1, 2010

370 years ago
1640

Died on this date
Miguel de Vasconcelos, 50 (?). Prime Minister of Portugal, 1635-1640. Mr. Vasconcelos was the last Secretary of State (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Portugal, during the Philippine Dynasty, in which both kingdoms of Portugal and Spain remained separated but united by the same king and foreign policy. He was regarded as a traitor for his collaboration with the Spanish, and was assassinated by Portuguese noblemen who started a revolution in order to restore full independence to Portugal. Mr. Vasconcelos hid in the closet of his palace, but was discovered, and was shot to death and defenestrated.

Europeana
Portugal acclaimed João IV as King of Portugal, ending 59 years of personal union of the crowns of Portugal and Spain and the end of the rule of the Philippine Dynasty.

120 years ago
1890

Politics and government
U.S. President Benjamin Harrison delivered his annual State of the Union message to Congress.

110 years ago
1900

Football
U.S. college
Navy 11 Army 7 @ Franklin Field, Philadelphia

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Louis Slotin. Canadian-born U.S. physicist. Mr. Slotin, a native of Winnipeg, worked on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico during World War II. He was working there when he was irradiated in a criticality incident during an experiment with the demon core, and died on May 30, 1946 at the age of 35, nine days after the accident.

80 years ago
1930

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Stockbroker’s Clerk

75 years ago
1935

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Woody Allen!

70 years ago
1940

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Dancing Men

Died on this date
Charles Richman, 75. U.S. actor. Mr. Richman was a popular leading man on stage for many years, but usually played supporting roles in films such as Becky Sharp (1935); The Life of Emile Zola (1937); The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938); and Dark Victory (1939).

War
A report from Brazil said that a British cruiser had halted the Brazilian costal ship Itape near Capo Sao Thome--18 miles off Brazil--and had taken off 22 passengers as German nationals.

Politics and government
General Manuel Avila Camacho was sworn in as President of Mexico, and pledged Mexican-American amity.

Diplomacy
Joseph P. Kennedy announced that he had submitted his resignation as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom on November 6 so that he might devote his time to help U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt keep the United States out of war.

Protest
More than 100 followers of Indian independence advocate Mohandas Gandhi, including four former prime ministers of Indian provinces, were reported to have been arrested throughout India for "civil disobedience."

Economics and finance
U.S. Senator Walter George (Democrat--Georgia) a member of the Senate Finance Committee, said that the corporate income tax may be increased from the present 24% on corporations with annual net incomes of $25,000 or more before the national defense program was completed.

NFL
Brooklyn (8-3) 14 @ New York (6-4-1) 6
Philadelphia (1-10) 6 @ Washington (9-2) 13
Green Bay (6-4-1) 13 @ Cleveland (4-6-1) 13
Chicago Cardinals (2-7-2) 23 @ Chicago Bears (8-3) 31

60 years ago
1950

At the movies
The Killer that Stalked New York, directed by Earl McAvoy, and starring Evelyn Keyes, Charles Korvin, and William Bishop, opened in theatres.





Died on this date
Ernest John Moeran, 55. U.K. composer. Mr. Moeran was English, but partly of Irish extraction, whose work was strongly influenced by English and Irish folk music. He wrote two symphonies and other orchestral, vocal, and chamber works, as well as works for piano. Mr. Moeran's life and work were interrupted by periods of heavy drinking. He had a fatal cerebral hemorrhage and fell into water near his cottage in Ireland, 30 days before his 56th birthday.

War
Sir Benegal Rau of India met with Chinese Communist spokesman Wu Hai-chuan at Lake Success in an effort to mediate the Korean War. The Korean Army requested 50,000 more draftees for February 1951, raising the total draft call since the start of the war to 300,000. U.S. President Harry Truman for $18 billion more for fiscal 1951 to meet the Korean emergency.

Associated Press reported that Viet Minh leader Ho Chi Minh had announced his intention of driving the French from Laos and Cambodia in addition to Vietnam.

Defense
Amidst growing concern over the possibility of a global war, U.S. High Commissioner John J. McCloy warned that the U.S.S.R. had more than 25 divisions in its German zone capable of driving to the Rhine River in the first attack.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): It's Now or Never--Elvis Presley (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): It's Now or Never--Elvis Presley (5th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Purple Gang

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched Sputnik 6, a five-ton satellite containing two dogs named Pcholka and Mushka, along with other animals, insects, and plants. Its mission was reportedly one of medical, biological, and physics studies in preparation for manned space flight.

World events
Patrice Lumumba, deposed Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo, was arrested by troops of Colonel Joseph Mobutu, head of the Congolese army regime. Mr. Lumumba was captured in Port Francqui and was flown back to Leopoldville in handcuffs. Col. Mobutu said that Mr, Lumumba would be tried for inciting the army to rebellion and other crimes. United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold made a telegraphic appeal to Congolese President Joseph Kasavubu asking that Mr. Lumumba be treated according to "due process of law." The U.S.S.R. denounced Mr. Hammarskjold and the western powers as responsible for Mr. Lumumba’s arrest and demanded his release.

Economics and finance
The Cuban government of Fidel Castro negotiated to purchase Cuban assets of the Bank of Nova Scotia for $57 million.

Hockey
NHL
Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings became the National Hockey League's career scoring leader, with 1,092 points.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Black Night--Deep Purple (4th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 A Song of Joy--Miguel Rios
2 Lola--The Kinks
3 I Man i dram--Madcaps
4 Yoyo--Chris Andrews
5 Me and My Life--The Tremeloes
6 Abraham (Das Lied vom Trödler)--Wolfgang
7 Deine Einsamkeit--Udo Jürgens
8 Lookin' Out My Back Door--Creedence Clearwater Revival
9 San Bernadino--Christie
10 In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry

Singles entering the chart were Abraham (Das Lied vom Trödler); San Bernadino; and Oh, wann kommst du? by Daliah Lavi (#12).

Terrorism
Basque nationalists in Spain kidnapped West German businessman and diplomat Eugen Beihl, 59, in San Sebastian, in protest against the Spanish government’s arrest and court-martial of 16 fellow Basques. The underground ETA (standing for the Basque words for "Basque Land and Liberty"), a nationalist group fighting for the independence of the Basque provinces in northern Spain, later announced that they were holding Mr. Beihl as hostage for the fate of the 16 facing court-martial and "to attract the attention of the whole world to the existence of our people."

The Canadian House of Commons passed the Public Order (Temporary Measures) Act to replace the War Measures Act; it continued outlawing the FLQ, while letting police arrest without warrant.

Crime
The court-martial of U.S. Lieutenant William Calley for his role in the 1968 My Lai massacre in South Vietnam resumed following a week-long Thanksgiving holiday.

Politics and government
Luis Echeverría Álvarez of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (Institutional Revolutionary Party) (PRI) took office as President of Mexico, succeeding Gustavo Díaz Ordaz.

The U.S. Senate voted 74-4 in favour of a bill to establish an independent federal agency for consumer interests.

Society
After a bitter debate, Italian President Giuseppe Saragat signed into law a bill making divorce legal in Italy for the first time since 1815, after it was approved by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The measure was officially opposed by the Vatican.

Religion
Pope Paul VI spent the day in Sydney, Australia, where his activities included a mass and an address to the diplomatic corps.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Shaddap You Face--Joe Dolce Music Theatre (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Koibito yo--Mayumi Itsuwa

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Xanadu--Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Santa Maria--Roland Kaiser (5th week at #1)

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Santa Maria--Oliver Onions (7th week at #1)
2 Woman in Love--Barbra Streisand
3 Santa Maria--Roland Kaiser
4 What You're Proposing--Status Quo
5 Dreamin'--Cliff Richard
6 Another One Bites the Dust--Queen
7 Feels Like I'm in Love--Kelly Marie
8 Matador--Garland Jeffreys
9 Master Blaster (Jammin')--Stevie Wonder
10 Upside Down--Diana Ross

Singles entering the chart were Santa Maria; Master Blaster (Jammin'); Eldorado by Goombay Dance Band (#16); and Some Broken Hearts Never Mend by Telly Savalas (#19).

Television
A new network was founded for northern Canada, broadcasting in Inuktitut to the eastern Arctic.

World events
Polish Communist leader Stanislaw Kania announced that the U.S.S.R. had granted $1.3 billion in economic aid to Poland, and he accused the Solidarity trade union movement of being in league with anti-Communist factions outside the country. The Soviet army closed to observers a strip along the Polish-East German border, giving rise to talk of Soviet preparations to cope with the Polish labour crisis.

Jiang Tengjiao, a former Chinese air force commander, confessed that he had plotted to murder Chairman Mao Zedong in 1976. He was on trial with four other military leaders before one of the Chinese government’s two special tribunals. The other tribunal was trying the "Gang of Four" and Mao’s political secretary Chen Boda.

Defense
King Hussein of Jordan announced that he had asked the United States and other western countries to speed their deliveries of arms to his country, warning that 30,000 Syrian troops had been massing near the Jordanian border. King Hussein himself had deployed 24,000 Jordanian soldiers on his side of the border.

Politics and government
In the first public election in Uruguay that had been permitted in seven years, voters defeated a proposed constitution that would have given the military the power to run the country.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the Economic Index had risen 0.9% in October, the smallest gain in four months. Building permits for housing; industrial investment; and growth of the money supply after allowance for inflation were down, while liquid assets and prices of certain raw materials were up.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): I'm Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ultimo Imperio--Atawalpa

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Show Me Heaven--Maria McKee

#1 single in France (SNEP): Une femme avec une femme--Mecano (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers
2 Show Me Heaven--Maria McKee
3 I'm Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston
4 The Anniversary Waltz--Status Quo
5 Born to Be Wild--Steppenwolf
6 Thunderstruck--AC/DC
7 Doin' the Do--Betty Boo
8 The Joker--Steve Miller Band
9 Keep on Running--Milli Vanilli
10 It Takes Two--Rod Stewart & Tina Turner

Singles entering the chart were Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice (#22); Ich Hab' Geträumt Von Dir by Matthias Reim (#28); Unbelievable by EMF (#31); You Gotta Love Someone by Elton John (#36); Giving You the Benefit by Pebbles (#37); and Step Back in Time by Kylie (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I'm Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston
2 Love Takes Time--Mariah Carey
3 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B
4 Groove is in the Heart--Deee-Lite
5 From a Distance--Bette Midler
6 Something to Believe In--Poison
7 More than Words Can Say--Alias
8 The Way You o the Things You Do--UB40
9 Impulsive--Wilson Phillips
10 Feels Good--Tony! Toni! Tone!

Singles entering the chart were I'll Give All My Love to You by Keith Sweat (#54); House Full of Reasons by Jude Cole (#82); Around the Way Girl by LL Cool J (#83); I Saw Red by Warrant (#85); No Matter What by George LaMond (Duet with Brenda K. Starr (#86); Love Makes Thing Happens by Pebbles (#91); Crash (Have Some Fun) by TKA featuring Michelle Visage (#92); Wicked Game by Chris Isaak (#94); and Give it to Me Good by Trixter (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I’m Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston
2 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B
3 Groove is in the Heart--Deee-Lite
4 Love Takes Time--Mariah Carey
5 From a Distance--Bette Midler
6 More Than Words Can Say--Alias
7 Something to Believe In--Poison
8 Feels Good--Tony! Toni! Tone!
9 Pray--M.C. Hammer
10 I Don’t Have the Heart--James Ingram

Singles entering the chart that week were I'll Give All My Love to You by Keith Sweat (#52); Wicked Game by Chris Isaak (#56); No Matter What by George LaMond with Brenda K. Starr (#61); Love Makes Things Happen by Pebbles (#70); Heat of the Moment by After 7 (#73); and Candy by Iggy Pop (#78).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 More than Words Can Say--Alias (2nd week at #1)
2 Stranded--Heart
3 Love Takes Time--Mariah Carey
4 So Close--Daryl Hall John Oates
5 Impulsive--Wilson Phillips
6 Something to Believe In--Poison
7 From a Distance--Bette Midler
8 I’m Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston
9 One and Only Man--Steve Winwood
10 Miracle--Jon Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart were For You by the Outfield (#65); Justify My Love by Madonna (#79); Wherever Would I Be by Cheap Trick (#86); After the Rain by Nelson (#88); Love Will Never Do (Without You) by Janet Jackson (#91); The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) by Cher (#94); No Tattoos by Andy Curran (#95); Mama Help Me by Edie Brickell and New Bohemians (#96); Anything is Possible by Debbie Gibson (#97); and Does She Love that Man? by Breathe (#99).

Died on this date
Carla Lehmann, 73. Canadian-born U.K. actress. Miss Lehmann, a native of Winnipeg, began her career there on stage before moving to England, where she appeared in plays and 11 films from 1938-1947, as well as several television programs, including the series The Three Hostages (1952).

War
A three-week offensive by rebel forces in Chad ended in success when President Hissene Habre fled from Ndjamena, the capital city, into exile in Cameroon.

Transportation
Construction workers drilled through the final wall of wall of rock to join the two halves of the Channel Tunnel linking Great Britain to France.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. initiated food rationing in Leningrad and three other cities.

10 years ago
2000

Politics and government
In an unprecedented peaceful transfer of power from one party to another, Vicente Fox of the National Action Party was sworn in as President of Mexico, succeeding Ernesto Zedillo of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which had ruled the country since 1929. Mr. Fox swore in his cabinet ministers and made them pledge to adhere to a set of ethical rules and to reveal their assets. In his inaugural address, Mr. Fox promised to end corruption and human rights abuses and to improve education and the environment. He also pledged to end the rebellion in the province of Chiapas, and ordered federal army troops to begin pulling out.

The last U.S. Senate contest from the November 7 election was decided when Maria Cantwell (Democrat) was declared the winner over incumbent Republican Slade Gorton in Washington by 2,229 votes in a recount. The result left both the Democrats and Republicans with 50 seats each in the Senate.

World events
A judge in Chile formally charged former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet in the kidnapping and murder of political opponents. Gen. Pinochet, 85, was reportedly in poor health.