December 6, 2012

130 years ago
1882

Died on this date
Alfred Escher, 63. Swiss politician and businessman. Mr. Escher was probably the most influential Swiss politician in the 19th century; his many offices included membership on the National Council (1848-1882), with three terms as President (1849-1850, 1856-1857, 1862-1863). He played significant roles in the foundation and management of the Swiss Northeastern Railway; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology; Credit Suisse, Swiss Life; and the Gotthard Railway. Mr. Escher died after a lifetime of bouts of ill health.

120 years ago
1892

Politics and government
Alexandre Ribot became Prime Minister of France for the first of four times.

60 years ago
1952

Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart--Vera Lynn; Eddy Howard (3rd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Why Don't You Believe Me--Joni James (Best seller--2nd week at #1); You Belong to Me--Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra (Disc Jockey--11th week at #1); The Glow-Worm--The Mills Brothers (Juke Box--1st week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Glow-Worm--The Mills Brothers
2 I Went to Your Wedding--Patti Page
3 It's in the Book (Parts 1 and 2)--Johnny Standley
4 You Belong to Me--Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra
--Patti Page
5 Why Don't You Believe Me--Joni James
--Patti Page
6 Trying--The Hill Toppers
7 Jambalaya--Jo Stafford
8 Because You're Mine--Mario Lanza
9 Lady of Spain--Eddie Fisher
--Les Paul
10 I--Don Cornell

Singles entering the chart were Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes by Perry Como (#24); Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me by Karen Chandler (#31); Lazy River by Art Mooney and his Orchestra (#33); and Conquest by Patti Page (#34). Conquest was the B-Side of Why Don't You Believe Me.

50 years ago
1962

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Lovesick Blues--Frank Ifield (5th week at #1)

On television tonight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Hangover, starring Tony Randall and Jayne Mansfield

Health
235 people had been admitted to hospital in London as a result of three days of fog that had spread across England.

40 years ago
1972

War
As Vietnam peace talks continued in Paris, fighting intensified as Tan Son Hnut, one of two major airports near Saigon, was hit by the heaviest Communist rocket attack in four years.

25 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Faith--George Michael

#1 single in France: La Bamba--Los Lobos (8th week at #1)

Protest
More than 200,000 took to the streets in Washington, and a smaller number in Moscow, to protest the Soviet Union's treatment of Jews.

20 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Would I Lie to You?--Charles & Eddie

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Die da--Die Fantastischen Vier

#1 single in Switzerland: Don't You Want Me--Felix (4th week at #1)

Died on this date
Hank Worden, 91. U.S. actor. Mr. Worden was a real-life cowboy before playing cowboys and other characters in movies and television programs in a career spanning more than 50 years. He appeared in 12 movies directed by John Ford, and 17 movies starring John Wayne, most notably The Searchers (1956). Mr. Worden died in his sleep.

Terrorism
More than 2,000 people were killed in two months of rioting resulting from the destruction of a mosque in Ayodhya, India and attacks on other Muslim sites by Hindu militants.

10 years ago
2002

Died on this date
Bob Steele, 91. U.S. radio personality. Mr. Steele joined station WTIC in Hartford, Connecticut in 1936, and was its morning announcer from 1943-1991. He hosted a Saturday morning show on WTIC from 1991 until his death.

Philip Berrigan, 79. U.S. clergyman and protester. Mr. Berrigan, a Roman Catholic priest from 1955-1973, was, with his brother Daniel, known for protesting against U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, which resulted in Philip Berrigan's inclusion on the FBI's ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and imprisonment for vandalizing U.S. Selective Service records.