August 8, 2015

200 years ago
1815

World events
Former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for St. Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean, to spend the remainder of his days in exile.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
James "Jumbo" Elliott. U.S. runner and coach. Mr. Elliott was a short- and middle-distance runner at Villanova University, graduating in 1935. He coached the Villanova track team from 1949 until his death, leading his team to eight National Collegiate Athletic Association team titles, 82 individual NCAA titles, 66 world records. 28 of the athletes coached by Mr. Elliott participated in the Olympic Games, with five winning gold medals. He died on March 22, 1981 at the age of 65, and was inducted into the Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1981.

75 years ago
1940

Died on this date
Johnny Dodds, 48. U.S. musician. Mr. Dodds was a clarinetist and saxophonist who was known for his work in the 1920s with the New Orleans-based bands of artists such as King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Lovie Austin, and Louis Armstrong. He died of a heart attack after years of poor health.

War
German U-boats broke up a British convoy in the English channel; bombers followed up the attack, sinking six British ships. German Chief of Armed Forces High Command Wilhelm Keitel signed the Aufbau Ost (Buildup in the East) directive for the mobilization of forces before the start of Operation Barbarossa and the subsequent invasion of the Soviet Union.

Diplomacy
The United Kingdom reiterated her pledge to India of "equal partnership" in the Commonwealth, and invited Indian participation on the war advisory council.

Politics and government
U.S. Postmaster General James Farley announced his resignation effective August 31, 1940.

American Labor Party leaders announced that they would support the re-election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the November 1940 U.S. presidential election.

Scandal
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ordered Vernon Walton of Walton and Company suspended from the New York Stock Exchange for giving false information to the SEC.

70 years ago
1945

War
The U.S.S.R. declared war against Japan, citing Japanese rejection of the Allied call for unconditional surrender contained in the Potsdam declaration. The state of war would begin on August 9. The London Charter was signed by France, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and the United States, establishing the laws and procedures for the Nuremberg trials of accused German war criminals.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry S. Truman signed the United Nations Charter, making the United States the first nation to do so.

A five-point plan for the future of the Jewish state was submitted to the World Zionist Conference in London.

Politics and government
The U.S. State Department announced a four-power agreement for Austria, providing for an Allied council of four military commanders to govern Austria as a whole, and confining the country to its 1937 frontiers.

Defense
The Iranian Foreign Office reported that British and Soviet troops would be withdrawn at once from Tehran, but that no decision on their leaving the rest of the country had been reached.

Society
U.S. Censorship Director Byron Price lifted the ban on individual mailing of books, magazines, newspapers, catalogues, and other printed matter to neutral European countries.

Scandal
U.S. Senate Interstate Commerce Commission Committee Chairman Burton K. Wheeler (Democrat--Montana) charged that officials of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation were speculating in Baltimore & Ohio Railroad securities.

50 years ago
1965

Died on this date
Shirley Jackson, 48. U.S. authoress. Miss Jackson was best known for her short story The Lottery (1948) and the novel The Haunting of Hill House (1959). She died in her sleep of heart failure.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: The Newcastle Song--Bob Hudson (6th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Paloma Blanca--George Baker Selection (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Paloma Blanca--George Baker Selection (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Cannonball Adderley, 46. U.S. musician. Julian Edwin Adderley was an alto saxophonist who was known for his work with Miles Davis in the late 1950s and the hit single Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (1966-1967). He died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Football
NFL
Pre-season
Atlanta (1-0) 16 @ Washington (1-1) 14

Baseball
The Oakland Athletics scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to defeat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 before 20,575 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in a game that was played in 1 hour and 39 minutes. With 2 out and nobody on base in the bottom of the 7th, Reggie Jackson hit his 28th home run of the season, Billy Williams singled, and Gene Tenace hit his 17th homer of the season. Ken Holtzman allowed 5 hits and 2 runs--1 earned--in 7 1/3 innings, with Rollie Fingers pitching 1 2/3 innings of relief for his 15th save of the season. Losing pitcher Reggie Cleveland pitched a complete game, allowing just 3 hits--the hits that produced the runs.

Ralph Garr led off the bottom of the 1st inning and scored on a ground out by Earl Williams for the only run of the game as the Atlanta Braves edged the Chicago Cubs 1-0 in the first game of a twi-night doubleheader before 8,368 fans at Atlanta Stadium. Carl Morton pitched a 5-hit shutout to win the pitchers' duel over Tom Dettore, who allowed 2 hits and 1 earned run in 6 innings. Ray Burris allowed 8 hits in 6 innings and Darold Knowles 3 in 3 innings, but they combined to allow just 1 run as the Cubs won the second game 3-1, with Mr. Burris getting the win.

The Montreal Expos rallied for 3 runs with 2 out in the top of the 9th inning to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 8-7 before 44,030 fans at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. The Reds scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take a 7-5 lead, but Woodie Fryman relieved Dale Murray on the mound and quelled the rally, and pitched a scoreless 9th, striking out Dan Driessen and George Foster to end the game.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 8 runs in the first 3 innings as they defeated the San Diego Padres 10-6 before 23,534 fans at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Bob Forsch allowed 9 hits and 4 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings but still got the win. He also singled and scored in the 2nd inning, and hit his first home run of the season, a 2-run shot, in the 3rd.

Dick Allen singled home Garry Maddox with 1 out in the 9th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants before 31,026 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. With 1 out, Mr. Maddox singled and stole second base. Pitcher Randy Moffitt's errant pickoff throw went into center field, allowing Mr. Maddox to go to third. Greg Luzinski drew a base on balls, setting things up for Mr. Allen.

30 years ago
1985

Hit parade
Canada's Top 30
1 Never Surrender--Corey Hart
2 The Power of Love--Huey Lewis and the News
3 Angel--Madonna
4 You Give Good Love--Whitney Houston
5 If You Love Somebody Set Them Free--Sting
6 Get it On (Bang a Gong)--Power Station
7 Into the Groove--Madonna
8 19--Paul Hardcastle
9 Everytime You Go Away--Paul Young
10 Who's Holding Donna Now?--DeBarge
11 Glory Days--Bruce Springsteen
12 Walk of Life--Dire Straits
13 Summer of '69--Bryan Adams
14 People are People--Depeche Mode
15 Sussudio--Phil Collins
16 Everything I Need--Men at Work
17 We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)--Tina Turner
18 Sentimental Street--Night Ranger
19 Voices Carry--'Til Tuesday
20 Crying Over You--Platinum Blonde
21 You're Only Human--Billy Joel
22 Make it Better (Forget About Me)--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
23 Strange Animal--Gowan
24 Exception of Love--The Truth
25 Invincible--Pat Benatar
26 St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)--John Parr
27 Head Over Heels--Tears for Fears
28 Crazy in the Night--Kim Carnes
29 Freeway of Love--Aretha Franklin
30 Cry--Godley and Creme

Died on this date
Louise Brooks, 78. U.S. actress. Miss Brooks was best known for her starring roles in the German silent films Pandora's Box (1929) and Diary of a Lost Girl (1929). She co-starred in the Hollywood movie The Canary Murder Case (1929), which began filming as a silent movie. Miss Brooks returned to Germany after filming, but when Paramount studios decided to add sound to the movie, Miss Brooks refused to return to the United States from Germany to do retakes. When she did return, she turned down a co-starring role in The Public Enemy (1931), effectively finishing her career in Hollywood. In her later years, Miss Brooks became a highly-regarded film critic.

Football
CFL
Ottawa (2-3) 15 @ Winnipeg (3-2) 58

Willard Reaves rushed for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a run of 68 yards, as the Blue Bombers scored 58 straight points after falling behind 8-0 just 1:43 into the game when Daric Zeno returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown and Dean Dorsey converted and added a single on the kickoff. Tom Clements threw a touchdown pass to Pat Cantner, while John Hufnagel threw one to Jeff Boyd. Another Winnipeg touchdown was scored by Glenn Steele on a 70-yard punt return. Trevor Kennerd added 6 converts, 5 field goals, and a single. The second Ottawa touchdown was scored by defensive back Ricky Barden on a 4-yard fumble return in the 4th quarter, converted by Mr. Dorsey. The game was the last for Dave Newman of the Rough Riders; the receiver, a former finalist for the CFL's Rookie of the Year award, dropped too many passes to suit his coaches. 27,709 witnessed the slaughter at Winnipeg Stadium.

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): I Promised Myself--Nick Kamen (6th week at #1)

World events
Iraq occupied Kuwait, and the state was annexed to Iraq.

Football
CFL
British Columbia (1-3-1) 14 @ Winnipeg (4-1) 28

Danny McManus came off the bench to throw touchdown passes to Eric Streater and Rick House, while starting Winnipeg quarterback Tom Burgess returned to the game and completed another touchdown pass to Mr. Streater. Joe Paopao threw to Jay Christensen for one B.C. touchdown and rushed for the other in front of a Winnipeg Stadium crowd of 25,952.



20 years ago
1995

Died on this date
John Adams, 57. U.S. football player. Mr. Adams was a fullback with the Chicago Bears (1959-1962) and Los Angeles Rams (1963). He gained 99 yards on 41 carries and 1 touchdown, and caught 21 passes for 264 yards and 3 touchdowns.

World events
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's two eldest daughters and their husbands, along with other senior army officers, defected from the regime. Mr. Hussein's sons-in-law, who were brothers, were Lieutenant General Hussein Kamel Hassan al-Majid, who headed the chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons program; and Lieutenant Colonel Saddam Kamel Hassan al-Majid, head of presidential security.

10 years ago
2005

Died on this date
Ahmed Deedat, 87. Indian-born South African Islamic missionary and apologist. Mr. Deedat began his missionary work in 1942 and co-founded the Islamic Propaganda Centre International (IPCI) in 1957. He became known for debating Christians in South Africa and throughout the world. A prominent example was his debate before 4,000 people at West Ridge Park Stadium in Durban, South Africa in August 1981 with Campus Crusade for Christ apologist Josh McDowell on the topic Was Christ Crucified? Click on the link to download the book The Islam Debate (1983) by Mr. McDowell and John Gilchrist, which includes the entire text of the debate. Click on the link for a free download of the book Mr. Deedat wrote in response, Crucifixion or Cruci-fiction. Mr. Deedat was awarded the King Faisal International Prize in 1986 for his 50 years of missionary work, but began to attract increasing criticism when he increased his own criticism of other religions. It was said that Christians in South Africa warned Mr. Deedat that if he didn't stop his attacks on Christianity, God would strike him down. I don't know if South African Christians issued such warnings--that may be an urban legend--but Mr. Deedat was indeed struck down by a severe stroke on May 3, 1996, leaving him with "locked-in" syndrome, unable to communicate except through moving his eyes. He was bedridden after that, but continued to promote the false gospel of Islam.

Ilse Werner, 84. Indonesian-born German actress. Miss Werner, born Ilse Still, was popular in movies during the early 1940s. She was banned from performing by teh Allies after World War II because of her alleged role in Nazi propaganda, but returned to acting in the 1950s.

Barbara Bel Geddes, 82. U.S. actress. Miss Bel Geddes had a successful career on Broadway before appearing in movies such as I Remember Mama (1948) and Vertigo (1958), but is best known for playing Ellie Ewing in the television series Dallas (1978-1990).

Gene Mauch, 79. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. Mauch was a second baseman with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1944, 1948); Pittsburgh Pirates (1947); Chicago Cubs (1948-1949); Boston Braves (1950-1951); St. Louis Cardinals (1952); and Boston Red Sox (1956-1957), batting .239 with 5 home runs and 62 runs batted in in 304 games. He managed the Philadelphia Phillies (1960-1968); Montreal Expos (1969-1975); Minnesota Twins (1976-1980); and California Angels (1981-1982, 1985-1987), compiling a record of 1,902-2,037. Mr. Mauch was considered a brilliant strategist, but he presided over three of the biggest collapses in history: the Phillies blew a 6 1/2-game lead with 12 games to play in 1964 and finished 1 game behind the St. Louis Cardinals; the Angels blew a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League Championship Series in 1982 and lost the series 3-2; and the Angels blew a 5-2 lead in the 9th inning of the 5th game of the 1986 AL Championship Series while leading the best-of-seven series 3-1, and lost the series 4-3.

Energy
Iran resumed work at a uranium conversion facility after suspending activities for nine months to avoid United Nations sanctions.