March 18, 2012

230 years ago
1782

Born on this date
John C. Calhoun. 7th Vice-President of the United States, 1825-1832. Mr. Calhoun was born in Abbeville, South Carolina, and was an ardent defender of slavery and the interests of his state. Among he many political offices he held were Secretary of War (1817-1825) and Secretary of State (1844-1845). Mr. Calhoun served as Vice-President under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Mr. Calhoun believed in the right of states to nullify unconstitutional acts by the federal government; Mr. Jackson thought that nullification threatened the Union, and Mr. Calhoun resigned his office because of the disagreement. Mr. Calhoun died on March 31, 1850, still an active U.S. Senator.

60 years ago
1952

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Mystery of Edwin Drood: Part 1, starring John Baragrey

50 years ago
1962

Died on this date
Walter W. Bacon, 82. U.S. politician. Mr. Bacon, a Republican, served three terms as Mayor of Wilmington (1936-1941) before leaving that office to serve as Governor of Delaware (1941-1949).

Hockey
World championships
Canada (6-1) 6 U.S.A. (5-2) 1
West Germany (2-5) 7 Switzerland (1-6) 1

Bobby Brown scored 2 goals to lead the Galt Terriers, representing Canada, past the United States to clinch second place in the tournament. A capacity crowd of 5,500 at Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs saw the Canadians get other goals from Bobby Mader, Joe Hogan, Tod Sloan, and Jackie McLeod. Don Hall scored the only U.S. goal. Canada didn't finish as high as second place in the world championships again until 1985, by which time professional players had replaced the amateurs.

NHL
Montreal 2 @ Boston 6
Toronto 2 @ New York 2
Chicago 1 @ Detroit 4

Johnny Bucyk scored his 18th and 19th goals of the season to lead the Bruins past the Canadiens at Boston Garden. It was the first NHL game for Montreal centre Red Berenson, who had concluded an outstanding career with the University of Michigan Wolverines, scoring 43 goals that season.

40 years ago
1972

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Without You--Nilsson (2nd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 American Pie, Parts I and II--Don McLean (2nd week at #1)
2 Ranger's Waltz--The Mom and Dads
3 Brand New Key--Melanie
4 Cherish--David Cassidy
5 My World--The Bee Gees
6 Day by Day--Colleen Hewitt
7 Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)--Benny Hill
8 I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)--The New Seekers
9 Captain Zero--The Mixture
10 Cos I Luv You--Slade

Singles entering the chart were Joy by Apollo 100 (#29); It's One of Those Nights by the Partridge Family (#35); and One Tin Soldier by Coven (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Heart of Gold--Neil Young

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Heart of Gold--Neil Young
2 The Lion Sleeps Tonight--Robert John
3 Down by the Lazy River--The Osmonds
4 A Horse with No Name--America
5 Without You--Nilsson
6 Mother and Child Reunion--Paul Simon
7 Puppy Love--Donny Osmond
8 Hurting Each Other--Carpenters
9 Everything I Own--Bread
10 The Way of Love--Cher

Singles entering the chart were Vincent by Don McLean (#60); Let's Stay Together by Isaac Hayes (#66); Jump Into the Fire by Nilsson (#69); Baby Blue by Badfinger (#75); Train of Glory by Jonathan Edwards (#78); Be My Lover by Alice Cooper (#86); You Could Have Been a Lady by April Wine (#88); Lay-Away by the Isley Brothers (#91); Run Run Run by Jo Jo Gunne (#92); Sylvia's Mother by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show (#95); What it Is by the Undisputed Truth (#96); The Candy Man by Sammy Davis, Jr. with the Mike Curb Congregation (#97); Brandy by Scott English (#98); Darling Baby by Jackie Moore (#99); and Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love by Love Unlimited (#100). The Candy Man was a song from the movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971). Brandy was the original title of the song that became Barry Manilow's first big hit in late 1974-early 1975 under the title Mandy.

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Down by the Lazy River--The Osmonds
2 Hurting Each Other--Carpenters
3 Without You--Nilsson
4 Cotton Jenny--Anne Murray
5 Everything I Own--Bread
6 Mother and Child Reunion--Paul Simon
7 Heart of Gold--Neil Young
8 Puppy Love--Donny Osmond
9 Precious and Few--Climax
10 The Way of Love--Cher

Singles entering the chart were Give Ireland Back to the Irish by Wings (#64); Nutrocker by Emerson, Lake & Palmer (#68); Son of My Father by Giorgio Moroder (#74); Da Doo Ron Ron by Ian Matthews (#75); Vincent by Don McLean (#78); Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin (#83); Taurus by Dennis Coffey (#85); Jubilation by Paul Anka (#86); Gospel Rock by Doctor Music (#90); Smiling Wine by Shirley Eikhard (#92); Chantilly Lace by Jerry Lee Lewis (#95); Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne (#99); and Since I Fell for You by Laura Lee (#100).

Calgary's Top 10
1 Down by the Lazy River--The Osmonds
2 Mother and Child Reunion--Paul Simon
3 Life in the Bloodstream--The Guess Who
4 Joy--Apollo 100
5 Precious and Few--Climax
6 Mozart Serenade No. 13--Manuel de Falla Orchestra, conducted by Waldo De Los Rios
7 Heart of Gold--Neil Young
8 Arrividerci Girl--The Guess Who
9 Monday Morning Choo Choo--Stampeders
10 Hurting Each Other--Carpenters
Pick hit of the week: Give Ireland Back to the Irish--Wings

30 years ago
1982

Hit parade
Edmonton's Top 10 (CFRN)
1 Tainted Love--Soft Cell
2 If I Could Get You (Into My Life)--Gene Cotton
3 Key Largo--Bertie Higgins
4 Just Can't Win 'em All--Stevie Woods
5 That Girl--Stevie Wonder
6 My Guy--Sister Sledge
7 Mountain of Love--Charley Pride
8 Sweetheart--Marianne Faithfull
9 Should I Do It--Pointer Sisters
10 Bobbie Sue--Oak Ridge Boys

Society
Charges of gross indecency brought by British woman Mary Whitehouse against National Theatre director Michael Bogdanov over the play Romans in Britain ended when a lawyer representing British Attorney General Sir Michael Havers intervened and the prosecution dropped its case.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Caravan of Love--The Housemartins (6th week at #1)

Edmonton’s Top 30 (CHED)
1 Livin’ on a Prayer—Bon Jovi
2 The Final Countdown—Europe
3 Big Time—Peter Gabriel
4 Mandolin Rain—Bruce Hornsby and the Range
5 Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now—Starship
6 Let’s Wait Awhile—Janet Jackson
7 Don’t Dream it’s Over—Crowded House
8 Jacob’s Ladder—Huey Lewis and the News
9 Respect Yourself—Bruce Willis
10 Brand New Lover—Dead or Alive
11 I Wanna Go Back—Eddie Money
12 Tonight, Tonight, Tonight—Genesis
13 Will You Still Love Me?—Chicago
14 Lean on Me—Club Nouveau
15 I Knew You were Waiting (For Me)—Aretha Franklin and George Michael
16 Somewhere Out There—Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
17 Fight for Your Right (To Party)—The Beastie Boys
18 C’est la Vie—Robbie Nevil
19 Let’s Go—Wang Chung
20 Ain’t No Cure for Love—Jennifer Warnes
21 Keep Your Hands to Yourself—Georgia Satellites
22 With or Without You—U2
23 Dancing with My Mirror—Corey Hart
24 In the Heat of the Night—Bryan Adams
25 I’ll Be All Right Without You—Journey
26 Come Go with Me—Expose
27 Sign ‘o’ the Times—Prince
28 You Got it All—The Jets
29 Wild Horses—Gino Vannelli
30 I Will Be There—Glass Tiger

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that corporate profits had risen 6.1% in the fourth quarter of 1986.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Stockholm--Orup

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Lunch Stories

World events
White South Africans voted 68.6% in favour of political reforms to end apartheid and create a multi-racial government.

Diplomacy
A majority of the Finnish parliament voted to apply for membership in the European Community.

Politics and government
Texas billionaire Ross Perot announced that he would be an independent candidate for President of the United States in 1992 if his supporters were successful in getting his name in the ballot on all 50 states.

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Maude Farris-Luse, 115. U.S. supercentenarian. Ms. Luse was the world’s oldest living person at the time of her death.

World events
The county of Zhongdian, in the Chinese province of Yunnan, in the mountains near the border with Tibet, officially changed its name to Shangri-La in hopes of attracting more tourists.

Protest
Almost the entire population of Gibraltar turned out to protest the beginning of talks between the U.K. and Spain over the future status of the territory.

Music
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Brenda Lee, Isaac Hayes, Gene Pitney, Chet Atkins, Jim Stewart, the Ramones, the Talking Heads, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.