February 22, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Laura Pereverzoff Ong and Maria Melania Belmar Mora!

520 years ago
1495

War
The French Army of King Charles VIII took Naples without a pitched battle or siege; King Alfonso II of Naples was expelled, and Charles was crowned King of Naples.

160 years ago
1855

Academia
Pennsylvania State University was founded in State College, Pennsylvania, as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania.

150 years ago
1865

Law
Tennessee adopted a new constitution, abolishing slavery.

125 years ago
1890

Died on this date
John Jacob Astor III, 67. U.S. philanthropist. Mr. Astor was the wealthiest member of his family; he managed the family's real estate holdings, and donated to New York institutions such as the Astor Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Trinity Church.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre. Peruvian politician. Mr. Haya de la Torre was a university reformer before entering politics. He was exiled to Mexico by the Peruvian government in 1924, and founded the Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana--Partido Aprista Peruano (American Popular Revolutionary Alliance--Peruvian Aprista Party) in 1924, leading the party for the rest of his life. He favoured universal democracy and Latin American solutions to regional problems, rejecting both U.S. imperialism and Soviet Communism. Mr. Haya de la Torre returned to Peru in 1931 and was an unsuccessful candidate for President of Peru that year. He was imprisoned later that year, and the party was outlawed from 1931-1934 and 1935-1945. Mr. Haya de la Torre was forced to seek asylum at the Colombian embassy in Lima from 1949-1954, but was eventually feed, and the APRA was legalized again in 1956. Mr. Haya de la Torre ran for President again in June 1962, and led with 33.0% of the vote, slightly below the one-third required by the Constitution in order to be elected. A military coup a month later nullified the election. Mr. Haya de la Torre ran for President again in June 1963, but finished second. He became a member and President of the Peruvian Constituent Assembly in July 1978, serving until his death just over a year later at the age of 84 on August 2, 1979. A few weeks before his death, Mr. Haya de la Torre signed the new constitution on his deathbed.

Politics and government
A woman's suffrage bill, introduced and championed by Henry R. Emmerson, Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly for Albert County, was narrowly defeated in the House of Assembly by a vote of 18-17.

80 years ago
1935

Aviation
Airplanes were prohibited from flying over the White House in Washington, D.C.

75 years ago
1940

War
A Soviet official handed proposed terms of a settlement with Finland to the Swedish minister, warning that harsher terms would be imposed if these were rejected. Ivan Maisky, U.S.S.R. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, presented the Soviet peace proposals to the British Foreign Office. Dispatches from the Chinese capital of Chungking claimed the rout of the forces of Wang Ching-wei--leader of the Japanese-sponsored government in central China--on the Fulkien coast.

Politics and government
General Nuri-es Said formed a new Iraqi cabinet, naming himself both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

French socialists abstained in a vote of confidence in the Chamber of Deputies, leaving the government of Prime Minister Edouard Daladier with a majority of one.

Religion
La-Mu-Ton-Chu, a 6-year-old boy, was installed as the 14th Dalai Lama in ceremonies at Lhasa, Tibet.

Society
The U.S. State Department reported that applications for immigration had doubled in 1939 because of the disturbed conditions in Europe.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a five-month low in the wholesale price index, as farm products and textiles prices continued to decline.

Business
New York attorney Jacob Javits proposed changes in anti-trust laws to permit industries to form trade associations.

70 years ago
1945

War
The United States Senate Military Affairs Committee reported out a "no-labor-draft" substiture for the House of Representatives May-Bailey bill for "limited national service." The Senate measure would cover all workers, rather than those aged 18-45. A German U-Boat torpedoed the Royal Canadian Navy corvette Trentonian. As U.S. infantry units crossed the Saar River in assault boats south of Saarburg, U.S. troops cleared German forces from the triangle between the Saar and Moselle Rivers. More than 3,000 American planes took part in an assault on German transportation systems, bombing Lueneberg, Steudal, Haldenstadt, and Nordheim in western, central, and southern Germany. Soviet dictator Josef Stalin claimed that Germany had lost more than 1.15 million men in the 40-day Soviet offensive, and that "full victory is near." Remaining Japanese forces in Manila were trapped by American troops in the ancient walled sector of the city. U.S. forces landed on Capul Island, at the mouth of the San Bernardino Strait off the northwest coast of Samar Island, and occupied it by nightfall.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State Edward Stettinius, speaking at the Inter-American Conference in Mexico City, reaffirmed the Good Neighbor Policy toward Latin America, and promised that the U.S. would provide economic assistance to help Latin American countries adjust to postwar economic conditions.

Politics and government
U.S. Representatives John Rankin (Democrat--Mississippi) and Frank Hook (Democrat--Michigan) grappled and exchanged blows on the House floor after verbal exchanges over whether the Congress of Industrial Organization Political Action Committee was Communist-influenced.

Defense
The U.S. House of Representatives Military Affairs Committee named a subcommittee to investigate charges that Communists had received Army commissions.

Economics and finance
The United States House of Representatives passed the Senate-approved postwar rivers and harbors bill authorizing nearly $500 million in projects, and sent it to the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signature.

Labour
Public members of the U.S. National War Labor Board reported to President Franklin D. Roosevelt that wages on the average were surpassing prices and that it was essential to maintain the "Little Steel" formula for the time being.

60 years ago
1955

Tennis
Maureen Connolly, who had won the women's singles championship at Wimbledon from 1952-1954, announced her retirement from competitive tennis, seven months after breaking her leg when the horse she was riding was hit by a motor vehicle.

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): La Yenka--Johnny & Charley (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): The Hucklebuck--Brendan Bowyer (6th week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Bye, Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)--The 4 Seasons
2 It's Alright--Adam Faith
3 The Boy from New York City--The Ad Libs
4 Yeh, Yeh--Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
5 Terry--Twinkle
6 Dusty--The Rag Dolls
7 For Lovin' Me--Peter, Paul and Mary
8 Little Things--Bobby Goldsboro
9 My Girl--The Temptations
10 Shakin' All Over--Chad Allan and the Expressions (Guess Who?)

Singles entering the chart were Come Home by the Dave Clark Five (#18); Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey (#19, with the version by John Barry and his Orchestra); Hurt So Bad by Little Anthony and the Imperials (#35); Everyday by the Rogues (#36); Goodnight by Roy Orbison (#37); The Time Has Come by Dianne James (#38); That Weepin' Willow Tree by Ray Griff (#39); and Born to Be Together by the Ronettes (#40).

On television tonight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Trap, starring Anne Francis, Donnelly Rhodes, and Robert Strauss

Died on this date
Felix Frankfurter, 82. Austro-Hungarian-born U.S. jurist. Mr. Frankfurter, a native of Vienna, immigrated to New York with his family at the age of 12. He graduated from Harvard Law School and helped to found the American Civil Liberties Union. Mr. Frankfurter was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and sat on the court until 1962. He was known for advocating judicial restraint in his decisions.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched the satellite Cosmos 57, with the mission ending the same day, as it apparently failed to achieve Earth orbit.

Religion
Pope Paul VI, at the first private consistory of his reign, consecrated 27 cardinals.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Un corpo e un'anima--Wess & Dori Ghezzi (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir (Lady Marmalade)--Labelle (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)--Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Pick Up the Pieces--Average White Band

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Fire--Ohio Players
2 Pick Up the Pieces--Average White Band
3 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
4 Best of My Love--The Eagles
5 My Eyes Adored You--Frankie Valli
6 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
7 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
8 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
9 Lady--Styx
10 #9 Dream--John Lennon

Singles entering the chart were I Wanna Learn a Love Song by Harry Chapin (#78); I Have a Dream by Donny Osmond (#81); Hush/I'm Alive by Blue Swede (#89); Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance) by Leo Sayer (#93); Showdown by Odia Coates (#94); Angel (What in the World’s Come Over Us) by Atlanta Rhythm Section (#97); No Love in the Room by the 5th Dimension (#99); and Hijack by Herbie Mann (#100).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Mandy--Barry Manilow
2 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
3 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
4 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
5 Pick Up the Pieces--AWB
6 Best of My Love--The Eagles
7 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
8 Get Dancin'--Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes
9 You Beat Me to the Punch--Charity Brown
10 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Singles entering the chart were Lady Luck by Ken Tobias (#87); Star on a TV Show by the Stylistics (#88); Uproar by Anne Murray (#92); Don't Call Us, We'll Call You by Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta (#95); Shame, Shame, Shame by Shirley (And Company) (#96); Lovin' You by Minnie Riperton (#97); Emotion by Helen Reddy (#98); Part of the Plan by Dan Fogelberg (#99); and Sad Sweet Dreamer by Sweet Sensation (#100).

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CFRW)
1 Changes--David Bowie (2nd week at #1)
2 Mandy--Barry Manilow
3 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
4 Dream On--The Righteous Brothers
5 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
6 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
7 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
8 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
9 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
10 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
11 Lonely People--America
12 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
13 You're the First, the Last, My Everything--Barry White
14 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
15 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
16 Get Dancin'--Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes
17 Lady--Styx
18 Best of My Love--The Eagles
19 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
20 Pick Up the Pieces--AWB
21 Junior's Farm--Paul McCartney & Wings
22 My Eyes Adored You--Frankie Valli
23 California Jam--Klaatu
24 You Beat Me to the Punch--Charity Brown
25 Mother Earth--Ian Thomas
26 She's My Lady--Jayson Hoover
27 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
28 (Make Me Do) Anything You Want--A Foot in Coldwater
29 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds--Elton John
30 Don't Call Us, We'll Call You--Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta

Winnipeg's Top 30 (CKRC)
1 Black Water--The Doobie Brothers
2 Mandy--Barry Manilow
3 My Eyes Adored You--Frankie Valli
4 Roll on Down the Highway--Bachman-Turner Overdrive
5 Bungle in the Jungle--Jethro Tull
6 Please Mr. Postman--Carpenters
7 Morning Side of the Mountain--Donny and Marie Osmond
8 Best of My Love--The Eagles
9 Changes--David Bowie
10 Have You Never Been Mellow--Olivia Newton-John
11 Lady Marmalade--LaBelle
12 You Beat Me to the Punch--Charity Brown
13 Never Can Say Goodbye--Gloria Gaynor
14 Some Kind of Wonderful--Grand Funk
15 Lady--Styx
16 Doctor's Orders--Carol Douglas
17 You're No Good--Linda Ronstadt
18 Fire--Ohip Players
19 Pick Up the Pieces--AWB
20 Don't Call Us, We'll Call You--Sugarloaf/Jerry Corbetta
21 Mother Earth--Ian Thomas
22 Sweet Surrender--John Denver
23 Poetry Man--Phoebe Snow
24 Boogie On Reggae Woman--Stevie Wonder
25 Can You Give it All to Me--Myles and Lenny
26 (Make Me Do) Anything You Want--A Foot in Coldwater
27 Powerful People--Gino Vannelli
28 No No Song--Ringo Starr
29 Up in a Puff of Smoke--Polly Brown
30 (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song--B.J. Thomas

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Shout--Tears for Fears (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Want To Know What Love Is--Foreigner (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Efrem Zimbalist, 94 or 95. Russian-born U.S. musician. Mr. Zimbalist was a famous concert violinist for more than 40 years. He settled in the United States, and directed the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadephia from 1941-1968. Mr. Zimbalist composed several works, mainly for violin. His son Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. became a popular actor.

Alexander Scourby, 71. U.S. actor. Mr. Scourby recorded 422 books for the Talking Books program of the American Foundation for the Blind, and was best known for his 1950 recording of the King James Version of the Bible. He worked in theater and cinema, with his best-known movie being The Big Heat (1953).

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (5th week at #1)

Edmonton's Top 7 (CFRN)
1 Opposites Atract--Paula Abdul (Duet with the Wild Pair)
2 Back to Life--Soul II Soul
3 Dangerous--Roxette
4 Two to Make it Right--Seduction
5 Let Your Backbone Slide--Maestro Fresh-Wes
6 All or Nothing--Milli Vanilli
7 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel

Scandal
A transcript of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s videotaped testimony in the trial of former national security adviser John Poindexter, who was on trial for his part in the Iran-Contra scandal, was made public. Mr. Reagan testified that he had authorized, in general, the policy of selling arms to Iran and aiding the Nicaraguan Contras, but he said he had repeatedly told subordinates to obey the law, and he said he had not known that National Security Council staff member Oliver North had been coordinating supply missions for the Contras and otherwise assisting the Contras at a time when the U.S. Congress had banned U.S. support for them. Mr. Reagan often testified that he was unable to remember key meetings or conversations.

Environment
A grain carrier collided with a Polish fishing vessel in Vancouver Harbour, British Columbia, spilling 40,000 litres of diesel fuel.

Health
For the first time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a low-calorie substitute for fat. Nutrasweet Company had developed the substance, Simplesse, a blend of proteins from egg white and milk. The FDA said Simplesse was safe for use in frozen dessert products, and the company said it could be used in other foods having a high fat content. Other food manufacturers were reported working on fat substitutes in response to concerns about nutrition.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 2 @ Calgary 12

20 years ago
1995

Died on this date
Ed Flanders, 60. U.S. actor. Mr. Flanders was best known for playing Dr. Donald Westphall on the television series St. Elsewhere (1982-1988). He won three Emmy Awards--including one for his performance in St. Elsewhere--and a Tony Award. Mr. Flanders always seemed mopey on television, and in fact suffered from depression, which contributed to his suicide by shooting himself.

Politics and government
British Prime Minister John Major and Irish Prime Minister John Bruton held a joint news conference where they presented their plan for government in Northern Ireland. The plan contemplated creation of a cross-border assembly for Northern Ireland that would included representatives from Ulster and the parliament of Ireland. This body would deal with economic and cultural development, while the United Kingdom would continue to control taxation and security in Northern Ireland. N.I. Unionists, who favoured continued ties with the U.K., denounced the plan as a blueprint for union with the Republic of Ireland.

Defense
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's Corona spy satellite program, in existence from 1959-1972, was declassified.

Politics and government
Lucienne Robillard, newly elected to the House of Commons as a Liberal candidate in a Montreal riding, was appointed federal Minister of Labour in the cabinet of Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Simone Simon, 94. French actress. Miss Simon made a number of movies in France, including La Bête Humaine (1938), but is best remembered for Hollywood movies such as The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941); Cat People (1942); and The Curse of the Cat People (1944).

Harry Simeone, 94. U.S. musician. Mr. Simeone was an arranger for bandleader Fred Waring, and also worked in movies and television, but was best known for assembling the Harry Simeone Chorale, who recorded the Christmas songs The Little Drummer Boy (1958) and Do You Hear What I Hear? (1962).