February 28, 2012

120 years ago
1892

Born on this date
Kenneth Wherry. U.S. politician. Mr. Wherry, a Republican, began his political career in Pawnee City, Nebraska, serving as a city councillor (1927, 1929) and Mayor (1929-1931, 1938-1942), while also sitting in the Nebraska State Senate (1929-1932). He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Party nomination for Governor of Nebraska (1932) and for the U.S. Senate (1934). Mr. Wherry represented Nebraska in the U.S. Senate from 1943 until his death. Sen. Wherry represented a constituency that included a large population of German ancestry, and he supported a post-World War II policy that expressed concern for the plight of the people of Germany. He held old-style Republican isolationist views, opposing American entry into World War II; the Cold War; the Korean War; Marshall Plan aid to Europe; and homosexuals and Communists in government. Sen. Wherry was Senate Minority Whip (1943-1947); Majority Whip (1947-1949); and Minority Leader (1949-1951); he died from pneumonia at the age of 59 on November 29, 1951, several weeks after undergoing abdominal surgery.

70 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Moonlight Cocktail--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra

50 years ago
1962

Boxing
Cassius Clay (12-0) scored a technical knockout over Don Warner (12-7-2) at 34 seconds of the 4th round of a heavyweight bout at Convention Hall in Miami Beach, Florida.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Si Può Dare Di Più--Gianni Morandi, Umberto Tozzi, and Enrico Ruggeri (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Stand by Me--Ben E. King (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi (3rd week at #1)
2 Open Your Heart--Madonna
3 Jacob's Ladder--Huey Lewis and the News
4 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
5 Keep Your Hands to Yourself--Georgia Satellites
6 You Got it All--The Jets
7 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox
8 (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)--Beastie Boys
9 Ballerina Girl--Lionel Richie
10 Respect Yourself--Bruce Willis

Singles entering the chart included Keep Your Eye on Me by Herb Alpert (#87); and Power by Kansas (#88).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox
2 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
3 Shake You Down--Gregory Abbott
4 Keep Your Hands to Yourself--Georgia Satellites
5 C'est la Vie--Robbie Nevil
6 Walk Like an Egyptian--Bangles
7 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi
8 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago
9 Respect Yourself--Bruce Willis
10 Ballerina Girl--Lionel Richie

Singles entering the chart were Wild Horses by Gino Vannelli (#87); I Knew You were Waiting (For Me) by Aretha Franklin and George Michael (#89); Tonight, Tonight, Tonight by Genesis (#90); Dancing with My Mirror by Corey Hart (#93); Lean on Me by Club Nouveau (#94); Brother Louie by Modern Talking (#97); and Only Love Remains by Paul McCartney (#98).

Died on this date
Joan Greenwood, 65. U.K. actress. Miss Greenwood had a stage career spanning almost 50 years, and appeared in movies such as Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949); The Man in the White Suit (1951); and Tom Jones (1963). She died as the result of acute bronchitis and asthma, four days before her 66th birthday.

10 years ago
2002

Economics and finance
The last day for the legal use of currencies in Euro Zone nations passed uneventfully, as most people had switched to Euros weeks before.