December 22, 2013

225 years ago
1788

Asiatica
Nguyễn Huệ proclaimed himself Emperor Quang Trung of Vietnam, in effect abolishing on his own the Lê dynasty.

130 years ago
1883

Born on this date
Marcus Hurley. U.S. basketball player and cyclist. Mr. Hurley played basketball at Columbia University (1904-1908), earning All-American honours in each of his first three seasons, and as the team's captain, leading Columbia to the first national championship in 1908. He won gold medals in the ¼ mile, ⅓ mile, ½ mile, and mile, and a bronze medal in the 2 mile competition at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis. Mr. Hurley died on March 28, 1941 at the age of 57.

125 years ago
1888

Born on this date
J. Arthur Rank. U.K. film producer. Joseph Arthur Rank produced films and bought theatres, consolidating his interests in founding the J. Arthur Rank Organisation in 1939. His movies included The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943); Henry V (1944); and The Red Shoes (1948). Baron Rank died on March 29, 1972 at the age of 83.

Politics and government
The Christmas Meeting of 1888, considered to be the official start of the Faroese independence movement, took place in the house of the Løgting in Tórshavn.

70 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Beatrix Potter, 77. U.K. authoress and naturalist. Miss Potter was a respected amateur mycologist, but was best known for her children's books, beginning with The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902). She died of pneumonia and heart disease.

War
The Canadian First Division surrounded the Italian town of Ortona, cutting off a German retreat. A Soviet offensive below Nevel, White Russia gained new ground, with more than 20 localities being captured. Chinese troops in northern Hunan Province continued to make progress after clearing Japanese forces from both banks of the Lin River. Five convicted German spies were sentenced in Rio de Janeiro to 30 years' imprisonment.

Academia
The U.S. National Academy of Arts and Letters announced the addition of members including Roy Harris, Qunicy Porter, Louis Ayres, Isobel Bishop, Jo Davidson, Charles D. Maginnis, and Benjamin W. Morris III.

Labour
A U.S. federal court in New York found seven men guilty of extorting one million dollars from the motion picture industry through strike threats.

60 years ago
1953

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Gift of Fear, starring Paul Hartman and Dennis O'Keefe

50 years ago
1963

Crime
Reginald Binette killed four parishioners of Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Ottawa, Ontario in a robbery attempt. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on May 1, 1964.

Football
AFL
New York (5-8-1) 0 @ Kansas City (5-7-2) 48
Houston (6-8) 49 @ Oakland (10-4) 52
Denver (2-11-1) 20 @ San Diego (11-3) 58

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): t Is weer voorbij die mooie zomer--Gerard Cox (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Merry X'mas Everybody--Slade (2nd week at #1)

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 He Did with Me--Vicki Lawrence (2nd week at #1)
2 Angie--Rolling Stones
3 Dancing on a Saturday Night--Barry Blue
4 Rubber Bullets--10 C.C.
5 48 Crash--Suzi Quatro
6 Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)--Kevin Johnson
7 Summer (The First Time)--Bobby Goldsboro
8 For the Good Times--Perry Como
9 I Am Pegasus--Ross Ryan
10 Photograph--Ringo Starr

The only single entering the chart was Be by Neil Diamond (#35).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich
2 Hello It's Me--Todd Rundgren
3 Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)--Helen Reddy
4 Time in a Bottle--Jim Croce
5 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
6 Just You 'N' Me--Chicago
7 The Joker--Steve Miller Band
8 Show and Tell--Al Wilson
9 Top of the World--Carpenters
10 If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)--Staple Singers

Singles entering the chart were I Shall Sing by Garfunkel (#63); Midnight Rider by Gregg Allman (#74); Can This Be Real by Natural Four (#75); A Fool Such as I by Bob Dylan (#79); Joy (Part 1) by Isaac Hayes (#81); I Love by Tom T. Hall (#88); Star by Stealers Wheel (#89); Teenage Lament '74 by Alice Cooper (#90); Stormy Monday by Latimore (#92); Jolene by Dolly Parton (#94); Wang Dang Doodle by the Pointer Sisters (#95); Somewhere Between Love and Tomorrow by Roy Clark (#97); Flashback by the 5th Dimension (#98); My Sweet Lady by Cliff DeYoung (#99); and This is Your Song by Don Goodwin (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
2 Top of the World--Carpenters
3 The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich
4 Painted Ladies--Ian Thomas
5 Just You 'N' Me--Chicago
6 Photograph--Ringo Starr
7 Big Time Operator--Keith Hampshire
8 I Got a Name--Jim Croce
9 Pretty Lady--Lighthouse
10 Space Race--Billy Preston

Singles entering the chart were Love Song by Anne Murray (#86); Guilty of Rock 'N' Roll by Lorence Hud (#97); Million Dollar Weekend by Crowbar (#99); and Lucy, Lucy, Lucy by Alan Schick (#100).

#1 single in Calgary: Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks (2nd week at #1)

Canadiana
In this day's issue of The Canadian Magazine, writer Pierre Berton was quoted as saying, "A Canadian is somebody who knows how to make love in a canoe."

Diplomacy
The first round of Arab-Israeli peace talks in Geneva ended with a quick agreement to move "forthwith" toward talks on the separation of Egyptian and Israeli forces along the Suez Canal.

Economics and finance
As part of a government effort to combat rising inflation and the oil shortage, the Japanese cabinet of Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka approved an "austerity" budget for 1974, calling for the smallest increase in annual spending in four years. Mr. Tanaka declared an economic "state of emergency" and cut oil and electricity supplies for industry by 20%, effective January 1, 1974.

Crime
Former United Mine Workers President Tony Boyle pled not guilty to three counts of murder in connection with the slaying of Jock Yablonski--his rival for the union's presidency--and Mr. Yablonski's wife and daughter, all of whose bodies had been found at their home on January 5, 1970. After the plea, Mr. Boyle was returned to Springfield, Missouri to begin serving a three-year sentence for making illegal political contributions with union funds.

Football
NFL
NFC divisional playoff
Washington 20 @ Minnesota 27

AFC divisional playoff
Pittsburgh 14 @ Oakland 33

Fran Tarkenton completed 2 touchdown passes to John Gilliam in the 4th quarter to lead the Vikings over the Redskins before 45,475 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. Mr. Gilliam's second touchdown, converted by Fred Cox, gave Minnesota a 24-13 lead. Washington quarterback Billy Kilmer completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Roy Jefferson, and Curt Knight's convert reduced the deficit to 24-20. Mr. Cox kicked a 30-yard field goal, his second FG of the game, to close the scoring. Minnesota running back Oscar Reed had one of the best games of his career, rushing 17 times for 95 yards and catching 5 passes for 76 yards. Bill Brown scored the first Minnesota touchdown on a 2-yard rush in the 3rd quarter, converted by Mr. Cox. Larry Brown led the Redskins with 29 carries for 115 yards and a 3-yard touchdown rush in the 1st quarter. Mr. Jefferson led all receivers with 6 receptions for 84 yards. Mr. Knight, playing the last game of his five-year NFL career, converted both Washington touchdowns and kicked field goals of 52 and 42 yards.

Marv Hubbard rushed 20 times for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns and Willie Brown returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown as the Raiders defeated the Steelers before 51,110 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Raiders amassed 232 yards rushing, with Charlie Smith rushing 17 times for 73 yards and Clarence Davis adding 48 on 12 carries. Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler completed 14 of 17 passes for 142 yards. George Blanda converted all 3 Oakland touchdowns and kicked 4 field goals. Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw completed just 12 of 25 passes for 167 yards and 3 interceptions, but managed to complete touchdown passes to Barry Pearson in the 2nd quarter and Frank Lewis in the 4th quarter, both converted by Roy Gerela. The Oakland defense limited Pittsburgh's star running back Franco Harris to 29 yards on 10 carries.

30 years ago
1983

Diplomacy
Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat met in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, ending a rift between Mr. Arafat and Egypt that had existed since 1977, when then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat had initiated a dialogue with Israel. The United States endorsed the meeting between Mr. Arafat and Mr. Mubarak, but Israel expressed dismay.

Business
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 to approve a joint venture between General Motors Corporation and Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation. As a condition of approval, the two companies agreed not to expand their operation beyond its proposed limits. GM was the world's largest auto maker, with Toyota ranking third. The companies planned to build 200,000-250,000 small cars each year at an idle GM plant in California. The operation would be run by Toyota executives, with production beginning in 1985. The commission majority believed that the venture would help consumers by providing a new choice in the small-car market, and would help GM to learn Toyota's management and production techniques.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Smooth Criminal--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

Edmonton's Top 10 (CKRA)
1 Look Away--Chicago
2 Giving You the Best That I Got--Anita Baker
3 My Prerogative--Bobby Brown
4 Waiting for a Star to Fall--Boy Meets Girl
5 Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley (Free Baby)--Will to Power
6 In Your Room--Bangles
7 Two Hearts--Phil Collins
8 Wild, Wild West--Escape Club
9 Kokomo--The Beach Boys
10 I Don't Want Your Love--Duran Duran

Died on this date
Chico Mendes, 44. Brazilian labour and environmental activist. Mr. Mendes was a rubber tapper and union leader who advocated for the preservation of the Amazon jungle and the rights of Brazilian peasants and indigenous peoples. He was murdered at his Xapuri home by Darci Alves da Silva, the son of a rancher.

Terrorism
A pro-Iranian Islamic group phoned a wire service claiming responsibility for the previous day's bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which had killed 270 people. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said that a caller in Helsinki had warned the U.S. embassy there on December 5 that a Pan Am plane flying from Frankfurt to the United States would be the target of a bombing within two weeks. The U.S. State Department had then alerted its personnel, some of whom changed their travel plans. The U.S. public wasn't warned of the threat, one of many received by the government. Finnish police interrogated the tipster and concluded that he had nothing to do with the bombing.

Politics and government
U.S. Vice President and President-elect George Bush named more nominees to his forthcoming administration: Samuel Skinner--Secretary of Transportation; Manuel Lujan--Secretary of the Interior; Edward Derwinski--Secretary of Veterans Affairs; William Reilly--administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and Louis Sullivan--Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Derwinski was to be the first person to hold his post; Dr. Sullivan, the highest-ranking Negro in the administration, had met some criticism from conservatives because of perceived less-than-firm views against abortion.

Religion
The Centre for Self-Awareness in Edmonton held its Christmas candlelight service, a silly New Age event led by Rev. Sue Rubin. Songs included those inspirational classics I'll Be Home for Christmas and Frosty the Snowman.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting

Died on this date
Don DeFore, 80. U.S. actor. Mr. DeFore was best known for his supporting roles in the television comedy series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1957) and Hazel (1961-1965). He was President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences from 1954-1955, and was instrumental in getting the Emmy Awards telecast for the first time in 1955. Mr. DeFore died of cardiac arrest.

War
11 Canadian peacekeepers were taken captive by drunken Bosnian Serb militiamen in the eighth such incident since July.

Scandal
U.S. pop singer Michael Jackson, who had been in seclusion for more than a month, read a four-minute statement that was broadcast live on television by satellite from his ranch near Santa Barbara, California in which he denied molesting a young boy. The "King of Pop" said that officers from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff Department and the Los Angeles Police Department had photographed his body, an experience he said was "the most humiliating ordeal of my life." The boy who had accused Mr. Jackson of abuse had given a detailed description of his body. Mr. Jackson called the boy's story "disgusting" and "totally false." He faced both a civil suit and a criminal investigation.



Economics and finance
White House Office of Management and Budget director Leon Panetta said that the U.S. budget deficit for the fiscal year of 1995 would be about $190 billion. The figure, lower than any previous projection, was attributed to improvement in the economy.

10 years ago
2003

Terrorism
Four young Israelis and British television producer Mark Henderson, kidnapped by the National Liberation Army (ELN) in Colombia three months earlier, were released by their captors.