February 9, 2014

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Heather Blacklock!

225 years ago
1789

Born on this date
Franz Xaver Gabelsberger. German engineer. Mr. Gabelsberger, a typist with the Bavarian government, invented the Gabelsberger shorthand system. He died on January 4, 1849 at the age of 59.

200 years ago
1814

Born on this date
Samuel J. Tilden. U.S. politician. Mr. Tilden, a corporate lawyer from New York City, was a member of the Democratic Party, and was a leading figure in the exposure of corruption within local and state politics. He served as Governor of New York from 1875 through 1876, and was the Democratic candidate or President of the United States in 1876. In one of the most closely-contested and controversial elections in American history, Mr. Tilden captured a greater share of the popular vote than Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes and earned 184 electoral votes, one short of the required majority. The states of Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina had all submitted two sets of electoral votes, one favouring each candidate. A 15-member U.S. congressional commission decided the outcome. The commission consisted of 8 Republicans and 7 Democrats, and the vote went strictly along party lines. The electoral votes in question totaled 19, and they went to Mr. Hayes, giving him 185 electoral votes to 184 for Mr. Tilden. The result was decided on March 2, 1877, just two days before the new president was to be inaugurated. A smear campaign against Mr. Tilden in 1878 was unsuccessful, but Mr. Tilden declined to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1880 or 1884. He died on August 4, 1886 at the age of 72.

175 years ago
1839

Born on this date
Silas Adams. U.S. politician. Mr. Adams, a lawyer from Lexington, Kentucky, was a Republican Party politician who represented Kentucky in the United States House of Representatives from 1893-1895. He died on May 5, 1896 at the age of 57.

125 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Larry Semon. U.S. actor and film director. Mr. Semon was a major figure in silent movie comedy, beginning his career in 1915. He eventually directed and produced his films, often at high cost, leading to his financial ruin. Mr. Semon is best known today for The Wizard of Oz (1925). He suffered a nervous breakdown while performing on the vaudeville circuit and was sent to a sanatorium in Victorville, California, where he reportedly died of pneumonia and tuberculosis on October 8, 1928 at the age of 39.

Politics and government
U.S. President Grover Cleveland signed a bill elevating the United States Department of Agriculture to a cabinet-level agency.

110 years ago
1904

War
The Battle of Port Arthur concluded with the attacking Japanese ships being driven back by fire from Russian battleships and shore batteries.

100 years ago
1914

Born on this date
Ernest Tubb. U.S. musician. Mr. Tubb, the "Texas Troubador," was one of the most popular artists in country music from the 1940s thorugh the 1970s. His hit songs included Walking the Floor Over You (1941); Blue Christmas (1948); and Waltz Across Texas (1965). He died on September 6, 1984 at the age of 70.

Bill Veeck, Jr.. U.S. baseball executive. Mr. Veeck was the son of Bill Veeck, Sr., president of the Chicago Cubs. The younger Mr. Veeck co-owned the Milwaukee Brewers of the International League from 1941-1945 before owning the American League's Cleveland Indians (1946-1949), St. Louis Browns (1951-1953), and Chicago White Sox (1959-1961, 1975-1981). The Indians won the World Series in 1948, and the White Sox won the AL pennant in 1959. Mr. Veeck was the first American League owner to hire Negro players when he signed outfielder Larry Doby in 1947. His many innovations included putting players' names on their uniforms and an "exploding" scoreboard at Comiskey Park that would shoot fireworks whenever a White Sox player would hit a home run. Mr. Veeck's most famous promotional stunt occurred on August 19, 1951, when 3' 7" midget Eddie Gaedel was sent to bat for the Browns as a pinch hitter in the second game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. After a lengthy argument as to the validity of Mr. Gaedel's contract, the pinch hitter drew a base on balls and was removed for a pinch runner, and was subsequently ruled ineligible for further play. Another of Mr. Veeck's promotions was "Good Old Joe Earley Night," on September 28, 1948 at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, in response to a letter from a fan named Joe Earley complaining that Mr. Veeck's promotions ignored the average fan. Mr. Earley and his wife were presented with an automobile and other gifts before 60,000 fans. Mr. Veeck's least successful promotion was "Disco Demolition Night," in which Chicago disc jockey Steve Dahl staged a burning of disco records on the field between games of a doubleheader at Comiskey Park. Fans ran onto the field, the event got out of hand, and the second game was forfeited to the visiting Detroit Tigers. Mr. Veeck died on January 2, 1986 at the age of 71. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991; his plaque describes him as "a champion of the little guy."

70 years ago
1944

War
German authorities rebuffed Finland's offer to withdraw from World War II, and threatened opposition to any peace efforts. Soviet units in Ukraine seized Brovakhi, Vygrayev, and Gorodlische to further tighten their ring around the Germans on the middle Dnieper River. Allied planes in Italy bombed German positions in Cassino and installations and reinforcements near the Anzio beachhead. Japanese troops advanced toward British supply lines in the Arakan district of southwestern Burma.

Politics and government
The Swiss government reported that influential circles in northern Italy were proposing the establishment of a republic, with orchestra conductor Arturo Toscanini as its first president.

Marshal Josip Broz Tito's Yugoslavian partisan group announced the adoption of a resolution forbidding the return of King Peter II.

Labour
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt named Lloyd Garrison to replace Wayne Morse as a public member of the National War Labor Board.

The U.S. National Urban League reported that 253 war plants were satisfied with Negro labour performance, and expressed confidence in postwar employment opportunities.

Track and field
Gil Dodds won the mile run at the Boston Athletic Association games in 4:09.5--the fastest indoor time in Boston history.

60 years ago
1954

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Moonstone, starring Phyllis Kirk and Noel Leslie

50 years ago
1964

On television tonight
The Ed Sullivan Show, on CBS
With an estimated 73.7 million people watching in the United States, the Beatles made their first U.S. television appearance, singing All My Loving, Till There was You, and She Loves You in their first set, before coming back later in the show and performing I Saw Her Standing There and I Want to Hold Your Hand. Other acts performing on the program included the Broadway cast of Oliver (including future Monkee Davy Jones); comic duo Mitzi McCall and Charlie Brill; comedian Frank Gorshin; singer Tessie O'Shea; magician Fred Kapps; and acrobatic act Wells and the Four Fays.

40 years ago
1974

Hit parade
#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Den Uyl is in den olie--Vader Abraham & Boer Koekoek

#1 single in the U.K.: Tiger Feet--Mud (3rd week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Photograph--Ringo Starr
2 Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)--Helen Reddy
3 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
4 48 Crash--Suzi Quatro
5 The Most Beautiful Girl--Charlie Rich
6 The Ballroom Blitz--The Sweet
3 For the Good Times--Perry Como
7 Helen Wheels/Country Dreamer--Paul McCartney and Wings
8 Sorrow--David Bowie
9 I am Pegasus--Ross Ryan
10 Rock On--David Essex

There were no new singles entering the chart.

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Love's Theme--The Love Unlimited Orchestra

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Way We Were--Barbra Streisand
2 Americans--Byron MacGregor
3 Love's Theme--The Love Unlimited Orchestra
4 You're Sixteen--Ringo Starr
5 Let Me Be There--Olivia Newton-John
6 Boogie Down--Eddie Kendricks
7 Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)--Aretha Franklin
8 Jungle Boogie--Kool & The Gang
9 Spiders & Snakes--Jim Stafford
10 Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks

Singles entering the chart were Lookin' for a Love by Bobby Womack (#81); Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede (#83); Just Don't Want to Be Lonely by the Main Ingredient (#86); Try (Try To Fall In Love) by Cooker (#87); Virginia (Touch Me Like You Do) by Bill Amesbury (#89); Piano Man by Billy Joel (#94); That's the Sound That Lonely Makes by Tavares (#96); I Wish it was Me by Tyrone Davis (#97); The Crude Oil Blues by Jerry Reed (#98); and Willie Pass the Water by Ripple (#100). Piano Man was the first single by Mr. Joel to make the chart.

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Seasons in the Sun--Terry Jacks (3rd week at #1)
2 The Way We Were--Barbra Streisand
3 You're Sixteen--Ringo Starr
4 Love's Theme--The Love Unlimited Orchestra
5 Spiders & Snakes--Jim Stafford
6 Let Me Be There--Olivia Newton-John
7 Show and Tell--Al Wilson
8 Love Song--Anne Murray
9 I Thought of You Again--Susan Jacks
10 Me and Baby Brother--War

Singles entering the chart were Jet by Paul McCartney and Wings (#67); The Real Me by the Who (#74); Take Good Care of Her by Elvis Presley (#75); Can You Feel It by Lighthouse (#85); Put Your Hands Together by the O'Jays (#88); Must Be Love by the James Gang (#91); Came the Son by Ian Thomas (#93); Houston (I’m Comin’ To See You) by Glen Campbell (#94); Tell Me a Lie by Sami Jo (#96); Outside Woman by Bloodstone (#98); Thanks for Saving My Life by Billy Paul (#99); and A Mother for My Children by the Whispers (#100).

Calgary's top 10
1 You're Sixteen--Ringo Starr (2nd week at #1)
2 Let Me Be There--Olivia Newton-John
3 Smokin' in the Boy's Room--Brownsville Station
4 The Way We Were--Barbra Streisand
5 Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up--Barry White
6 I Love--Tom T. Hall
7 This is Your Song--Don Goodwin
8 Highway Driving--Alabama
9 Running Wild--Stampeders
10 Spiders & Snakes--Jim Stafford
Pick hit of the week: I Shall Sing--Garfunkel

Boxing
Carlos Monzon (82-3-9-1) retained his world middleweight championship with a knockout of world welterweight champion Jose Napoles (77-6) at Puteaux, Hauts-de-Seine in Paris, when Mr. Napoles failed to come out for the 7th round. The World Boxing Council subsequently stripped Mr. Monzon of recognition as the champion for failing to fight Rodrigo Valdes, although the World Boxing Assocation continued to recognize Mr. Monzon as champion.

30 years ago
1984

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Jenseits von Eden--Nino de Angelo (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Yuri Andropov, 69. U.S.S.R. leader, 1982-1984. Mr. Andropov led the KGB (Soviet secret police force) from 1967-1982, and succeeded Leonid Brezhnev as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (head of state) and General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union upon Mr. Brezhnev's death in November 1982. Soviet disinformation fed to Western journalists depicted Mr. Andropov as a "closet liberal" who liked the music of Glenn Miller. During his time as Soviet leader, Mr. Andropov attempted to reform the economy and root out corruption. He dismissed 18 ministers and 37 other first secretaries within the Soviet Communist Party. Declining health forced Mr. Andropov into hospital in August 1983, and he governed by means of notes handed to officials who visited him. Mr. Andropov's death wasn't revealed until February 10, when it was said he had "suffered nephritis, nephrosclerosis, secondary hypertension and sugar diabetes, which were worsened by chronic kidney insufficiency." The bulletin announcing his death said that Mr. Andropov had been receiving dialysis for a year.

Space
As part of the STS-41-B mission aboard the U.S. space shuttle Challenger, astronauts Bruce McCandless and Robert Stewart made their second untethered space walks using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), practicing capture procedures for the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite retrieval and repair operation, which was planned for the next mission, STS-41-C The five-man crew received a telephone call from U.S. President Ronald Reagan.



War
U.S. ships concluded two days of artillery barrages against Syrian positions in Lebanon.

Politics and government
Leftist opponents of the government of El Salvador said that they would boycott, but not interfere militarily with elections called for March, and also called for a broad-based provisional government. The rebels said there would be room for "private ownership and foreign investments" under the government they envisioned.

Olympics
Men's hockey
Group A
U.S.S.R. (2-0) 5 Italy (0-2) 1
Poland (0-2) 5 West Germany (2-0) 8
Yugoslavia (0-2) 0 Sweden (2-0) 11

Group B
Canada (2-0) 8 Austria (0-2) 1
C.S.S.R. (2-0) 4 U.S.A. (0-2) 1
Finland (2-0) 16 Norway (0-2) 2

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 3 @ Philadelphia 4

25 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): Like a Yo-Yo--Sabrina

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney (2nd week at #1)

20 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Howard Martin Temin, 59. U.S. geneticist. Dr. Temin shared the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Renato Dulbecco and David Baltimore for the discovery of reverse transcriptase. Dr. Temin died of lung cancer, although he was a non-smoker and anti-smoking advocate.

Diplomacy
Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres met in Cairo and initialled an agreement that resolved some contentious issues. They agreed that the area of Palestinian self-rule in the Jericho area would consist of about 21 square miles. To protect Jewish settlements in Gaza, Israel would control joint Israeli-Palestinian patrols on three roads linking the settlements to Israel. Also in Gaza, Israel would control a small zone around the settlements, but Palestinians would control most of the Gaza Strip.

The United States extended diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Macedonia, formerly part of Yugoslavia.

War
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization gave Serbs in Bosnia and Herzegovina 10 days to pull back from their positions overlooking Sarajevo or face air strikes.

10 years ago
2004

Died on this date
Claude Ryan, 79. Canadian journalist and politician. Mr. Ryan was editor of the Montreal newspaper Le Devoir from 1964-1978, when he entered politics. He led Quebec's provincial Liberal party from 1978-1982, and was on the winning (federalist) side of the province's referendum on sovereignty in 1980. Mr. Ryan, who was elected to the National Assembly in 1979, resigned as Liberal leader the year after failing to unseat the Parti Quebecois government in a provincial election. When the Liberals, under Robert Bourassa, regained power in 1985, Mr. Ryan served as Minister of Education from 1985-1990. He retired from politics in 1994.

War
The government of Sudan announced that it had crushed rebel forces in the western region of Darfur. The rebels denied the claim.

Violent protests against the Haitian government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide spread to a dozen towns.