November 19, 2011

180 years ago
1831

Born on this date
James A. Garfield. 20th President of the United States, 1881. Mr. Garfield, a Republican, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio from 1863-1881. He was chosen by the Ohio state senate to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy in 1879, and won a narrow victory over Democratic Party candidate Winfield Scott Hancock in the U.S. presidential election on November 2, 1880, becoming the only person to be elected to the presidency directly from the U.S. House of Representatives. For a brief time he was a sitting Congressman, Senator-elect, and President-elect. Mr. Garfield made civil service reform a priority of his presidency, and on July 2, 1881, he was shot in the back at a railroad station in Washington by Charles Guiteau, a lawyer, political office-seeker, and pseudo-Christian utopian socialist. Mr. Garfield's wound was probably survivable, but his doctors helped spread infection by poking and prodding with unwashed hands and unsterilized instruments in attempting to find the bullet. Mr. Garfield died on September 19, 1881 at the age of 49, and was succeeded in office by Vice President Chester A. Arthur.

100 years ago
1911

Radio
New York City received its first Marconi wireless transmission from Italy.

Disasters
The Doom Bar in Cornwall, England claimed the ships Island Maid and Angele, the latter killing the entire crew except the captain.

75 years ago
1936

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Harry West, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 1

70 years ago
1941

War
German forces, which had begun large-scale offensives against Moscow and Rostov the previous day, were reported today to have made progress on both fronts. The British command in Cairo announced that U.K. forces had begun a general offensive into Libya at dawn the previous day, advancing more than 50 miles on the first day. The Australian ship HMAS Sydney and German auxiliary cruiser HSK Kormoran sank each other off the coast of Western Australia, with the loss of 645 Australians and about 77 German seamen. The Japanese government reported that one Soviet soldier had been killed and two captured on November 16 when they had crossed the U.S.S.R.-Japan frontier about 30 miles from Manchuli in Manchukuo.

Diplomacy
The New York Herald Tribune reported that U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull had told Japanese Ambassador to the United States Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura and assistant Saburo Kurusu that Japan must withdraw from the Axis and renounce further aggression as a basis for a general settlement of Pacific problems.

Academia
Seven members of the Georgia Board of Regents meeting in Atlanta voted to reinstate 10 university professors who had been ousted by Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge.

Economics and finance
U.S. Secretary of State Hull and Mexican Ambassador to the United States Francisco Castillo Najera signed an agreement providing for compensation for U.S. oil property expropriated in 1938.

Labour
The U.S. Workers Alliance announced that it had disbanded as a national organization.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt urged steel companies and the Congress of Industrial Organizations United Mine Workers of America to immediately settle the coal strike, either by allowing the matter of the closed shop to remain in status quo during the national emergency or submitting this point to arbitration. The steel companies offered to accept either proposal, but UMW President John L. Lewis rejected both. About 92,000 miners halted work in eastern U.S. coal regions in sympathy with strikers in mines owned by steel firms. Supporters of CIO President Philip Murray were involved in fistfights with backers of Mr. Lewis at the CIO convention.

60 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Lights Out, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Friday the Nineteenth, starring Eddie Albert, Audra Lindley, and Joan Taylor

World events
A U.S. C-47 transport plane flying from Vienna to Belgrade was forced down over Hungary by Soviet fighter planes, and its four-man crew was turned over to Hungarian authorities.

Diplomacy
U.S. State Department sources reported the choice of adviser George Kennan for appointment as the next U.S. Ambassador to the U.S.S.R.

Defense
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission set off Buster-Jangle Sugar, the sixth in a series of seven atomic devices to be detonated in Nevada; it was a "surface" shot, the only true surface shot in Nevada Test Site history. U.S. troops, in Operation Desert Rock II, observed the test and conducted maneuvers at a distance because of dirtiness.

Sudan's U.K.-controlled government rejected Egypt's proposal for a temporary British withdrawal from Sudan as "completely impractical."

Politics and government
Labour Party leader Oscar Torp took office as Prime Minister of Norway.

The Israeli Knesset elected Chaim Weizmann to a second four-year term as President.

Scandal
In New York City, Judge Saul Streit sentenced five former college basketball stars to prison for bribery, relating to points-shaving during games played at Madison Square Garden during the 1949-50 season. The players were Sherman White, formerly of Long Island University, sentenced to 1 year; Connie Schaff (New York University), Ed Warner, and Ed Roth (City College of New York), six months; and Eddie Gard (LIU), indeterminate. Master fixer Sal Sollazzo was given an 8-16 yea sentence. Suspended sentences were given to Adolph Bigos, Leroy Smith, Nate Miller, and Dick Feurtado (LIU); Ed Roman, Floyd Layne, Herb Cohen, Irwin Dambrot, and Norman Mager (CCNY). Lou Lipman, formerly of LIU, was too ill to appear at the hearing, but Judge Streit indicated that he would also receive a suspended sentence. The story of the scandals was told by Charley Rosen in his book Scandals of '51 (1978).



Journalism
The Buenos Aires newspaper La Prensa, idle for 10 months since being shut down by a strike and seized by the government of President Juan Peron, resumed publication under the nominal management of the Peronist General Confederation of Labour.

Energy
The world's first atomic heating plant started operation at Britain's Harwell atomic centre.

50 years ago
1961

Football
CFL
Eastern Finals (1st game of 2-game total points series)
Hamilton 7 @ Toronto 25

Toronto quarterback Tobin Rote completed 26 of 40 passes, including touchdowns of 9 yards to Bobby Kuntz and 47 yards to Dave Mann in the 4th quarter, before a capacity crowd of 33,135 at CNE Stadium. Mr. Rote also rushed 5 yards for the game's first touchdown in the 3rd quarter. Bill Mitchell added 3 converts and opened the scoring in the 1st quarter with a 26-yard field goal. Mr. Mann punted for a 47-yard single in the 3rd quarter for the Argonauts' other point. The Tiger-Cats scored a single on a missed 36-yard field goal attempt by Don Sutherin in the 2nd quarter and a 29-yard touchdown rush by quarterback Bernie Faloney in the 4th quarter. Mr. Sutherin, whose second interception of the game had set up the score, missed the convert. Dick Shatto made 2 interceptions for the Argonauts.

NFL
Chicago (5-5) 31 @ San Francisco (5-4-1) 41
Detroit (6-3-1) 37 @ Minnesota (2-8) 10
Los Angeles (3-7) 17 @ Green Bay (8-2) 35
Philadelphia (7-3) 24 @ Cleveland (7-3) 45
Pittsburgh (4-6) 21 @ New York (8-2) 42
St. Louis (4-6) 0 @ Baltimore (5-5) 16
Washington (0-9-1) 28 @ Dallas (4-5-1) 28



AFL
Dallas (3-7) 14 @ San Diego (11-0) 24
Buffalo (5-6) 23 @ Denver (3-8) 10
New York (5-5) 13 @ Houston (6-3-1) 49

40 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey--Paul & Linda McCartney

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Mamy Blue--Pop Tops (3rd week at #1)

South Africa's Top 10 (Springbok Radio)
1 Mammy Blue--Charisma (5th week at #1)
2 Butterfly--Danyel Gerard
3 Never Ending Song of Love--The New Seekers
4 Get Me Some Help--Neville Whitmill
5 You--Peter Maffay
6 What are You Doing Sunday--Dawn
7 Amen--Peanutbutter Conspiracy
8 Daar's Niks Soos Ware Liefde--Groep Twee
9 Papa's Gonna Kiss it Better--William E.
10 Co-Co--The Sweet

Singles entering the chart were I Believe (in Love) by Hot Chocolate (#17); Cousin Norman by Marmalade (#19); and Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast by Daniel Boone (#20).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 Theme from Shaft--Isaac Hayes (3rd week at #1)
2 The Desiderata--Les Crane
3 Mammy Blue--Pop-Tops
4 Baby I'm-A Want You--Bread
5 Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves--Cher
6 Lonesome Mary--Chilliwack
7 Imagine--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
8 It's a Cryin' Shame--Gayle McCormick
9 Everybody's Everything--Santana
10 Two Divided by Love--The Grass Roots

Singles entering the chart were Brand New Key by Melanie (#26); No Good to Cry by the Poppy Family (#28); All I Ever Need is You by Sonny & Cher (#29); and For Better, for Worse by the Bells (#30).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKVN)
1 Hey Girl--Donny Osmond
2 Theme from Shaft--Isaac Hayes
3 Imagine--John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
4 Absolutely Right--Five Man Electrical Band
5 Wild Night--Van Morrison
6 Baby I'm-A Want You--Bread
7 Lonesome Mary--Chilliwack
8 Mammy Blue--Pop-Tops
9 The Desiderata--Les Crane
10 Two Divided by Love--The Grass Roots

Singles entering the chart were Can I Get a Witness by Lee Michaels (#27); Got to Be There by Michael Jackson (#28); (I Know) I'm Losing You by Rod Stewart with Faces (#36); Devil You by the Stampeders (#37); Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) by the Temptations (#39); and Sour Suite by the Guess Who (#40).

30 years ago
1981

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CFRN)
1 Young Turks--Rod Stewart
2 Physical--Olivia Newton-John
3 Here I Am--Air Supply
4 Theme from Hill Street Blues--Mike Post
5 Yesterday's Songs--Neil Diamond
6 Steal the Night--Stevie Woods
7 Wired for Sound--Cliff Richard
8 More to Love--Jim Photoglo
9 Harden My Heart--Quarterflash
10 Waiting for a Girl Like You--Foreigner

Protest
3,000 Canadian Indians marched on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and more in other sites across Canada, to protest exclusion of aboriginal rights from the new Constitution.

Football
CFL
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who had been eliminated from Grey Cup contention with a loss in the western semi-final, dominated the Schenley Awards presentation in Montreal. Winnipeg quarterback Dieter Brock was named the Most Outstanding Player for the second straight season; slotback Joe Poplawski was named Most Outstanding Canadian Player; and guard Larry Butler, who had been thoroughly outplayed by rookie defensive tackle Rick Klassen in the Blue Bombers' loss to the British Columbia Lions in the semi-final, was named Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. Edmonton Eskimos' middle linebacker Dan Kepley was named Most Outstanding Defensive Player, and Saskatchewan Roughriders' linebacker Vince Goldsmith was named Most Outstanding Rookie.

25 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden: The Way You Are--Agnetha Fältskog and Ola Håkansson

20 years ago
1991

Died on this date
Reggie Nalder, 84. Austro-Hungarian born U.S. actor. Mr. Nalder, born Alfred Reginald Natzler, was a character actor in numerous films and television programs, but was best remembered as the assassin in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). Many of his appearances were in horror films, and was known as "the face that launched a thousand trips." Mr. Nalder died of bone cancer.

Environment
Canada signed the United Nations-sponsored agreement in Geneva to cut emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds - solvents that kill plant and combine with nitrous oxides to form ozone.

10 years ago
2001

Abominations
Former South African President and Communist terrorist Nelson Mandela became the first living recipient of honorary Canadian citizenship.

Politics and government
U.S. President George W. Bush signed legislation to put airport baggage screeners on the federal payroll.

Baseball
Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants became the first baseball player to win four Most Valuable Player awards, being named the MVP in the National League for 2001. He batted .328 in 153 games, setting a major league record of 73 home runs, with 137 runs batted in, 129 runs, and 177 bases on balls.