February 25, 2015

170 years ago
1845

Born on this date
George Reid. Prime Minister of Australia, 1904-1905. Sir George, who was born in Scotland and moved to Australia as a child, led the Free Trade Party from 1891-1908 and went back and forth from state politics in New South Wales to federal politics, serving as Premier of New South Wales from 1894-1899. He was Prime Minister for just under 11 months during a time when protectionist parties were divided, without his party having a majority in either house of Parliament. When the protectionist parties were united, Sir George was soon voted out of office. He was Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1910-1916, and was then elected unopposed to the British House of Commons as a Unionist candidate, representing self-governing Dominions in supporting the Allied effort in World War I. Sir George died of a cerebral thrombosis on September 12, 1918 at the age of 73.

110 years ago
1905

Born on this date
Eddie Dwight. U.S. baseball player. Edward Joseph Dwight, Sr. played left field, center field, and second base for the Indianapolis ABCs (1925, 1931-1932); Gilkerson's Union Giants (1926-1927); and Kansas City Monarchs (1928-1929, 1933-1937), as independent clubs and in the Negro National League, leading the NNL in stolen bases with 29 in 1928. He worked as a bus driver for the Monarchs in the team's later years. Mr. Dwight's son Edward Joseph Dwight, Jr. became a United States Air Force pilot and America's first Negro astronaut candidate. Mr. Dwight, Sr. died, reportedly from tuberculosis, on November 27, 1975 at the age of 70.

90 years ago
1925

At the movies
The Shock Punch, directed by Paul Sloane, and starring Richard Dix and Frances Howard, opened in theatres.



75 years ago
1940

On television tonight
The New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-2 at Madison Square Garden in New York in the world's first televised hockey game, broadcast on Westinghouse station W2XBS-TV in New York.

War
Foreign ministers of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden announced that their countries would act as a unit to gain the belligerents' respect for their neutral rights. Japan began constructing extensive fortifications in the Shanghai and Tsingtao areas, indicating her desire to hold the Chinese sea coast.

Diplomacy
Francis B. Sayre, high commissioner of the Philippines, said that the United States would leave the islands as scheduled in 1946.

Politics and government
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt left his name on the Illinois Democratic primary ballot for President of the United States in 1940, to face Vice President John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner. In the Republican Party, New York District Attorney Thomas Dewey became the only candidate, as New York Congressman Hamilton Fish and New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia withdrew their names.

Economics and finance
The U.S. National Economy League issued a plan for a balanced federal budget of $7.282 billion.

70 years ago
1945

Radio
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's international shortwave service, Voice of Canada--later renamed Radio Canada International--officially opened in Ottawa.

War
The U.S. 1st Army took Dueren, while the 9th Army reported the capture of 15 other German towns. Soviet forces took the Pomeranian stronghold of Preussisch Friedland and sent tank spearheads to within 60 miles of the Baltic coast. Marianas-based U.S. bombers attacked Tokyo, destroying 240 square blocks of the city.

Politics and government
Rome reported an announcement issued by Harold Macmillan saying that the Allied Control Committee had relinquished control over liberated Italian territory, and that Italy could now appoint its own functionaries without committee approval except in cases of military necessity, which had to be approved by the Supreme Allied Commander.

Defense
Jack Woolams, chief test pilot with Bell Aircraft Corporation, flew the first prototype of Bell's new twin-jet fighter plane XP-83, and found it underpowered and unstable.

Aviation
Pan American Airways signed a contract in San Diego for 15 giant six-engined clippers from Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation for postwar travel abroad. The planes each weighed 160 tons; had a range of 4,200 miles; carried 204 passengers and 15,300 pounds of baggage; flew at 310-342 miles per hour; and could travel between London and New York in a little over nine hours.

60 years ago
1955

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Softly, Softly--Ruby Murray (2nd week at #1)

50 years ago
1965

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): I'll Never Find Another You--The Seekers

Diplomacy
Chile and Bulgaria re-established diplomatic relations after a 17-year break.

Abominations
The Canadian House of Commons received the preliminary report of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.

40 years ago
1975

Died on this date
Elijah Muhammad, 77. U.S. religious leader. Mr. Muhammad, born Elijah Poole, was the son of a Baptist lay preacher, but converted to Islam in the early 1930s, and led the Nation of Islam--commonly known as Black Muslims--from 1934 until his death. He promoted a version of Islam in which white people were "devils," and Negroes would eventually establish hegemony over whites. Malcolm X was a prominent member of the Nation of Islam, but broke with the movement in 1964 after accusing Mr. Muhammad of corruption; the Nation of Islam was accused of Mr. X's assassination on February 21, 1965.

Baseball
The Baltimore Orioles traded first baseman Boog Powell and pitcher Don Hood to the Cleveland Indians for catcher Dave Duncan and outfielder Al McGrew. In 14 seasons with the Orioles, Mr. Powell had batted .266 with 303 home runs and 1,063 runs batted in in 1,763 games. He was named the Most Valuable Player in 1970, when he batted .297 with 35 homers and 114 RBIs. Mr. Powell's productivity had tailed off in recent years; in 1974 he had batted .265 with 12 homers and 45 RBIs in 110 games. Mr. Hood, a middle relief pitcher, had joined the Orioles in 1973; in 1974 he posted a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 3.47 in 20 games. Mr. Duncan, a weak-hitting catcher with strong defensive skills, had batted .216 with 93 home runs and 283 RBIs in 740 games in 10 seasons in the major leagues. In 1974, he had batted .200 with 16 homers and 46 RBIs in 136 games. Mr. McGrew had yet to play in the major leagues.

The Texas Rangers traded pitcher Steve Dunning to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Stan Perzanowski. Mr. Dunning had entered the major leagues with the Cleveland Indians in 1970 and had been traded to the Rangers in 1973, posting a record of 20-35 with an earned run average of 4.64 through 1974. He spent most of the 1974 season with the Spokane Indians of the Pacific Coast League, pitching in just 1 game with the Rangers. Mr. Perzanowski had pitched with the White Sox in 1971 and 1974, posting a 0-1 record in 7 games with an ERA of 14.63. The Rangers assigned him to Spokane.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Want to Know What Love Is--Foreigner (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Yoisho!--Masahiko Kondō

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Amante Bandido--Miguel Bosé

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Welcome to Our World--John Grenell (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Bakerman--Laid Back (2nd week at #1)
2 All Around the World--Lisa Stansfield
3 Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic
4 Sit and Wait--Sydney Youngblood
5 Rich in Paradise "Going Back to My Roots"--F.P.I. Project
6 Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins
7 Don't Know Much--Linda Ronstadt (featuring Aaron Neville)
8 Got to Get--Rob 'n' Raz featuring Leila K.
9 Leave a Light On--Belinda Carlisle
10 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor

The only single entering the chart was Nothing Compares 2 U.

Politics and government
The National Opposition Union (UNO) defeated the Sandanista National Liberation Front (FSLN) in the Nicaraguan general election, ending more than 10 years of Sandanista rule. Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, who belonged to no party, defeated President Daniel Ortega 55%-41%, and the UNO also won more seats in the National Assembly, taking 51 of 92 seats to 39 for the Sandanistas. The 1978 assassination of Mrs. Chamorro’s husband, an editor, had helped to provoke the overthrow of the regime of President Anastasio Somoza by the Sandanistas in 1979, but Mrs. Chamorro, who initially supported the FSLN, turned against them as they shifted more toward Marxism. Dissatisfaction with the economy was regarded as the prime factor in the defeat of the Sandanistas. 2,000 foreign observers monitored the election. A few days before the election, the Edmonton Journal published an editorial warning the United States to abide by the results of the election; the Journal apparently wasn’t expecting the FSLN to lose.

Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa told provincial Liberals at a party general council meeting that Quebec would not return to the Canadian constitutional bargaining table if the Meech Lake accord failed. The party agreed to establish a committee to start examining the province’s options if the accord was not ratified by the June 25 deadline. Although he did not specifically advocate provincial independence if Meech Lake failed, Mr. Bourassa said that Quebec would not "practice federalism on our knees." Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon, whose province had not yet approved the accord, described Mr. Bourassa’s action as "sabre-rattling." Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells said that Mr. Bourassa was bluffing, and that Newfoundland would not be influenced by the action.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush and West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl concluded two days of talks. At a press conference they endorsed the concept of a united Germany within NATO. Mr. Bush said that the United States formally recognized the current German-Polish border. Some Poles were concerned that a united Germany might want to regain territory ceded to Poland after World War II.

Protest
Hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators took to the streets in more than 30 cities in the U.S.S.R.

Hockey
NHL
Calgary 10 Edmonton 4

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Another Night--Real McCoy (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Here Comes the Hotstepper--Ini Kamoze

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): The Reason is You--Nina

#1 single in France (SNEP): Short Dick Man--Fingers featuring Gillette (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): No Limit--Irene Moors & de Smurfen (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Think Twice--Celine Dion (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Take a Bow--Madonna
2 Creep--TLC
3 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men
4 Another Night--Real McCoy
5 Baby--Brandy
6 Candy Rain--Soul for Real
7 You Gotta Be--Des'ree
8 If You Love Me--Brownstone
9 Sukiyaki--4 P.M.
10 Hold My Hand--Hootie & the Blowfish

Singles entering the chart were Foe tha Love of $ by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony featuring Eazy-E (#48); Brooklyn Zoo by Ol' Dirty Bastard (#65); Shook Ones Part II by Mobb Deep (#66); Thank You by Boyz II Men (#73); I Live My Life for You by Firehouse (#76); 1-Luv by E-40 (featuring Leviti) (#92); This is How We Do It by Montell Jordan (#93) and Can't Wait by Redman (#94).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Take a Bow--Madonna (2nd week at #1)
2 Creep--TLC
3 On Bended Knee--Boyz II Men
4 Strong Enough--Sheryl Crow
5 If You Love Me--Brownstone
6 Hold My Hand--Hootie & the Blowfish
7 You Gotta Be--Des'ree
8 Every Day of the Week--Jade
9 I Know--Dionne Farris
10 Sukiyaki--4 P.M.

Singles entering the chart were If I Wanted To/Like the Way I Do by Melissa Etheridge (#16); Red Light Special by TLC (#45); Thank You by Boyz II Men (#50); If You Think You're Lonely Now by K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci (#60); Come Back by Londonbeat (#62); You Got It by Bonnie Raitt (#64); If You Don't Love Me (I’ll Kill Myself) by Pete Droge (#67); Dream About You/Funky Melody by Stevie B (#83); Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do) by Van Halen (#85); I Live My Life for You by Firehouse (#87); and Never Find Someone Like You by Keith Martin (#90).

Music
Frank Sinatra made his last appearance as a singer before an audience of 1,200 select guests at the Palm Desert Marriott Ballroom, on the last night of the Frank Sinatra Desert Classic golf tournament.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 5 Winnipeg 2

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Peter Benenson, 83. U.K. lawyer. Mr. Benenson, born Peter Solomon, founded the human rights organization Amnesty International in 1961.

Leo Labine, 73. Canadian hockey player. Mr. Labine was a right wing with the Boston Bruins (1951-61) and Detroit Red Wings (1961-62), scoring 321 points on 128 goals and 193 assists in 643 regular season games and 12 goals and 11 assists in 60 playoff games. His best season was probably 1954-55, when he scored 24 goals and 18 assists. Mr. Labine concluded his professional career with the Los Angeles Blades of the Western Hockey League (1962-67).

Eddie Patten, 65. U..S. singer. Mr. Patten was a member of Gladys Knight and the Pips, and was Miss Knight's first cousin. He died of a stroke.