December 1, 2015

375 years ago
1640

Died on this date
Miguel de Vasconcelos, 50 (?). Prime Minister of Portugal, 1635-1640. Mr. Vasconcelos was the last Secretary of State (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Portugal, during the Philippine Dynasty, in which both kingdoms of Portugal and Spain remained separated but united by the same king and foreign policy. He was regarded as a traitor for his collaboration with the Spanish, and was assassinated by Portuguese noblemen who started a revolution in order to restore full independence to Portugal. Mr. Vasconcelos hid in the closet of his palace, but was discovered, and was shot to death and defenestrated.

Europeana
Portugal acclaimed João IV as King of Portugal, ending 59 years of personal union of the crowns of Portugal and Spain and the end of the rule of the Philippine Dynasty.

260 years ago
1755

Died on this date
Maurice Greene, 59. U.K. musician and composer. Mr. Greene was the organist at St. Paul's Cathedral in London before being appointed to the Chapel Royal (1727), Professor of Music at Cambridge University (1730), and Master of the King's Musick (1735). He wrote sacred and secular vocal music, and was known for his long Verse Anthems.

160 years ago
1855

Transportation
The first train ran from Lévis to St-Thomas de Montmagny, Québec.

150 years ago
1865

Academia
Shaw University, the first historically Negro university in the southern United States, was founded in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Journalism
The Toronto newspaper The Globe first published authorized stock exchange lists on a regular basis.

125 years ago
1890

Politics and government
U.S. President Benjamin Harrison delivered his annual State of the Union message to Congress.

120 years ago
1895

Born on this date
Maurice Petsche. French politician. Mr. Petsche was a member of five different parties in a political career spanning more than 25 years. He represented Briançon in the Chamber of Deputies (1925-1940, 1946-1951), and held numerous cabinet posts. Mr. Petsche's career was interrupted by the Nazi occupation of France in 1940; he joined the French Resistance in July 1940. Mr. Petsche died on September 16, 1951 at the age of 55, just 36 days after taking office as France's Minister of State.

80 years ago
1935

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Woody Allen! The U.S. movie director and actor was born Allan Stewart Konigsberg in New York City.

75 years ago
1940

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Dancing Men

Died on this date
Charles Richman, 75. U.S. actor. Mr. Richman was a popular leading man on stage for many years, but usually played supporting roles in films such as Becky Sharp (1935); The Life of Emile Zola (1937); The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938); and Dark Victory (1939).

War
A report from Brazil said that a British cruiser had halted the Brazilian costal ship Itape near Capo Sao Thome--18 miles off Brazil--and had taken off 22 passengers as German nationals.

Politics and government
General Manuel Avila Camacho was sworn in as President of Mexico, and pledged Mexican-American amity.

Diplomacy
Joseph P. Kennedy announced that he had submitted his resignation as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom on November 6 so that he might devote his time to help U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt keep the United States out of war.

Protest
More than 100 followers of Indian independence advocate Mohandas Gandhi, including four former prime ministers of Indian provinces, were reported to have been arrested throughout India for "civil disobedience."

Economics and finance
U.S. Senator Walter George (Democrat--Georgia) a member of the Senate Finance Committee, said that the corporate income tax may be increased from the present 24% on corporations with annual net incomes of $25,000 or more before the national defense program was completed.

NFL
Brooklyn (8-3) 14 @ New York (6-4-1) 6
Philadelphia (1-10) 6 @ Washington (9-2) 13
Green Bay (6-4-1) 13 @ Cleveland (4-6-1) 13
Chicago Cardinals (2-7-2) 23 @ Chicago Bears (8-3) 31

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): It's Been a Long, Long Time--Harry James and His Orchestra with Kitty Kallen (Best Seller--2nd week at #1); Chickery Chick--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra with Nancy Norman, Billy Williams and the Kaye Choir (Airplay--2nd week at #1); It's Been a Long, Long Time--Bing Crosby with Les Paul and his Trio (Juke Box--1st week at #1); It's Been a Long, Long Time--Harry James and His Orchestra with Kitty Kallen; Bing Crosby with Les Paul and his Trio (Honor Roll of Hits--3rd week at #1);

Died on this date
Anton Dostler, 54. German military officer. General Dostler was executed by a United States Army firing squad in Aversa, Italy for carrying out the March 26, 1944 execution in Italy of 15 uniformed American prisoners of war in violation of the 1929 Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War.

War
British authorities arrested 76 German steel industrialists for investigation and possible trial for war crimes. The U.S.S.R. rejected Iranian charges of interference in Azerbaijan as Soviet troops completed their evacuation of Tehran. U.S. Army General Albert Wedemeyer revealed that Nationalist Chinese forces were still receiving U.S. arms under the Lend-Lease program.

Crime
The U.S. military government in Japan's department of investigation revealed that Japanese officials had taken millions of dollars from Koreans toward the end of World War II.

Economics and finance
Chinese Communist Party politburo member Liu Shao-chi told reporters that the party's program was one of democratic capitalism.

Football
CRU
Grey Cup @ Varsity Stadium, Toronto
Toronto Argonauts 35 Winnipeg 0

Doug Smylie scored 2 touchdowns and a convert, Billy Myers scored 2 touchdowns, and Joe Krol added a touchdown and 2 converts as the Argonauts routed the Blue Bombers before 18,660 fans in the last Grey Cup played by two teams composed of only Canadian players. The winning touchdown came early in the 1st quarter when quarterback Fred Doty rushed 25 yards and lateralled to Mr. Smylie, who ran the remaining 9 yards to complete the 34-yard play. Mr. Krol, playing halfback, threw a touchdown pass to Mr. Myers, and the Argonauts took a 12-0 lead after the 1st quarter, which held up through a scoreless 2nd quarter. In the 3rd quarter, Royal Copeland scored on a 13-yard end sweep to make the score 17-0. Mr. Smylie missed the convert, but scored his second touchdown of the game when he caught a short forward pass from Krol, who ran for the convert to give Toronto a 23-0 lead after 3 quarters. Mr. Krol returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown in the 4th quarter, and passed to end Frank Hickey for the convert.Mr. Myers then scored his second major in the dying seconds on a 70-yard rush, eluding a number of attempted tackles. The Blue Bombers got inside the Toronto 25-yard line only once during the entire game, then proceeded to fumble the ball back to the Argonauts. Fans hurled snowballs around Varsity Stadium, including some aimed at motorcycle cops who were clearing the field for the teams. One reporter stopped one snowball with his face, resulting in a black eye. The convert attempt on the last touchdown was also delayed five minutes, as fans stormed the field. For the Argnonauts and coach Ted Morris, it was the first of three straight Grey Cup wins over the Blue Bombers. It was the last game as Winnipeg coach for Bert Warwick.

NCAA
Doc "Mr. Inside" Blanchard and Glenn "Mr. Outside" Davis combined to score all 5 touchdowns as Army won its 18th straight game and completed its second straight perfect season with a 32-13 win over Navy in the annual game between the two defense academies before 102,000 fans at Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia.

60 years ago
1955

Protest
In Montgomery, Alabama, seamstress Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man and was arrested for violating the city's racial segregation laws, an incident which led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

50 years ago
1965

Defense
India established its Border Security Force.

Diplomacy
The first Cuban refugees flew to the United States under a new agreement with the Cuban regime of dictator Fidel Castro.

Agriculture
The British government of Prime Minister Harold Wilson put forward a plan to improve the lot of both farmers and consumers by encouraging intensive farming.

Baseball
The San Francisco Giants traded outfielder Matty Alou and a player to be named later to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Joe Gibbon and catcher-infielder Ozzie Virgil. Mr. Alou batted .231 with 2 home runs and 18 runs batted in in 117 games with the Giants in 1965. Mr. Gibbon was 4-9 with an earned run average of 4.50 in 31 games with the Pirates in 1965, while Mr. Virgil batted .265 with 1 homer and 5 RBIs in 31 games with Pittsburgh.

The Chicago White Sox traded outfielder Dave Nicholson and catcher Bill Heath to the Houston Astros for pitchers Jack Lamabe and Ray Cordeiro, cash, and a player to be named later. Mr. Nicholson batted .153 with 2 home runs and 12 runs batted in in 54 games with the White Sox in 1965, while Mr. Heath hit .283 with 3 homers and 36 RBIs in 115 games with Indianapolis of the AAA Pacific Coast League before making his major league debut with the White Sox, batting 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter. Mr. Lamabe was 0-3 with an earned run average of 8.28 in 14 games with the Boston Red Sox and 10-3 with a 1.95 ERA in 13 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the AAA International League before being acquired by the Astros and posting a record of 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 3 games. Mr. Cordeiro was 12-10 with a 3.10 ERA in 27 games with Amarillo of the AA Texas League.

The Kansas City Athletics traded outfielder Jim Landis and pitcher Jim Rittwage to the Cleveland Indians for catcher Phil Roof and outfielder Joe Rudi. Mr. Landis batted .239 with 3 home runs and 36 runs batted in in 118 games with Kansas City in 1965, while Mr. Rittwage was 5-7 with an earned run average of 3.39 in 32 games with Birmingham of the AA Southern League. Mr. Roof began the 1965 season with the Los Angeles Angels, batting .136 with ho homers or RBIs in 9 games before being traded to Cleveland on June 15 and batting .173 with no homers and 3 RBIs in 41 games. Mr. Rudi hit .254 with 16 homers and 58 RBIs in 110 games with Dubuque of the Class A Midwest League.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mamma Mia--ABBA (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ichigo Hakusho wo Mou Ichido--Bang Bang (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Hustle--Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony

On television tonight
MacNeil/Lehrer Report, on PBS

The program, which had first aired as the Robert MacNeil Report on New York station WNET on October 20, 1975, now began to air on Public Broadcasting Service stations across the United States, teaming Mr. MacNeil with Jim Lehrer. The program is now known as PBS NewsHour.

Died on this date
Ernesto Maserati, 77. Italian automotive engineer. Mr. Maserati participated with his brothers in the founding of the Maserati automobile company in 1914, and remained with the company until 1947. He was a race driver in the 1920s and '30s.

Dave Koslo, 55. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Koslo played with the New York Giants (1941-1942, 1946-1953); Baltimore Orioles (1954); and Milwaukee Braves (1954-1955), compiling a record of 92-107 with an earned run average of 3.68 in 348 games. He led the National League in 1949 with a 2.50 ERA, despite posting a record of 11-14. Mr. Koslo was 15-10 in 1947, and pitched a complete game victory over the New York Yankees in the opening game of the 1951 World Series. His last pitch in the major leagues was hit for a game-winning home run by Bill Virdon of the St. Louis Cardinals in the bottom of the 11th inning at Busch Stadium on April 14, 1955, giving the Cardinals an 8-7 win; it was Mr. Virdon's first major league home run.

Nellie Fox, 47. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Fox was a second baseman with the Philadelphia Athletics (1947-1949); Chicago White Sox (1950-1963); and Houston Colt .45s and Astros (1964-1965), batting .288 with 35 home runs and 790 runs batted in in 2,367 games. He led the American League in singles in eight seasons (seven consecutive); in hits in four seasons; and in triples, with 10, in 1960. Mr. Fox was named to play in 15 All-Star games, and won three Gold Gloves. His best season was 1959, when he batted .306 with 2 home runs and 70 runs batted in, and was named the AL's Most Valuable Player as the White Sox won their first pennant in 40 years. Mr. Fox struck out just 216 times in his major league career, and set a record in 1958 by playing 98 straight games without striking out. Mr. Fox ended his career by mentoring the man who took his job, Hall of Famer Joe Morgan. Mr. Fox died of lymphatic cancer 24 days before his 48th birthday; he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

Music
The Rolling Thunder Revue, headlined by Bob Dylan, performed before an audience of 15,690 for the first of two nights at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. In addition to Mr. Dylan, the artists included Joan Baez, Roger McGuinn, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Bobby Neuwirth, and Canadian stars Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, and Ronnie Hawkins. Tickets were priced at $8.80 for a five-hour show.

Literature
This blogger completed writing the short story A Hard Luck Tale, an assignment for Mr. Charles' English 10 class at Sir John Franklin Territorial High School in Yellowknife. The story won a prize in a national contest, but I'd almost have to be paid to read it today.

Football
NFL
New England (3-8) 7 @ Miami (8-3) 20

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): I'm Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ultimo Imperio--Atawalpa

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Show Me Heaven--Maria McKee

#1 single in France (SNEP): Une femme avec une femme--Mecano (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers
2 Show Me Heaven--Maria McKee
3 I'm Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston
4 The Anniversary Waltz--Status Quo
5 Born to Be Wild--Steppenwolf
6 Thunderstruck--AC/DC
7 Doin' the Do--Betty Boo
8 The Joker--Steve Miller Band
9 Keep on Running--Milli Vanilli
10 It Takes Two--Rod Stewart & Tina Turner

Singles entering the chart were Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice (#22); Ich Hab' Geträumt Von Dir by Matthias Reim (#28); Unbelievable by EMF (#31); You Gotta Love Someone by Elton John (#36); Giving You the Benefit by Pebbles (#37); and Step Back in Time by Kylie (#38).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 I'm Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston
2 Love Takes Time--Mariah Carey
3 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B
4 Groove is in the Heart--Deee-Lite
5 From a Distance--Bette Midler
6 Something to Believe In--Poison
7 More than Words Can Say--Alias
8 The Way You o the Things You Do--UB40
9 Impulsive--Wilson Phillips
10 Feels Good--Tony! Toni! Tone!

Singles entering the chart were I'll Give All My Love to You by Keith Sweat (#54); House Full of Reasons by Jude Cole (#82); Around the Way Girl by LL Cool J (#83); I Saw Red by Warrant (#85); No Matter What by George LaMond (Duet with Brenda K. Starr (#86); Love Makes Thing Happens by Pebbles (#91); Crash (Have Some Fun) by TKA featuring Michelle Visage (#92); Wicked Game by Chris Isaak (#94); and Give it to Me Good by Trixter (#95).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I’m Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston
2 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B
3 Groove is in the Heart--Deee-Lite
4 Love Takes Time--Mariah Carey
5 From a Distance--Bette Midler
6 More Than Words Can Say--Alias
7 Something to Believe In--Poison
8 Feels Good--Tony! Toni! Tone!
9 Pray--M.C. Hammer
10 I Don’t Have the Heart--James Ingram

Singles entering the chart that week were I'll Give All My Love to You by Keith Sweat (#52); Wicked Game by Chris Isaak (#56); No Matter What by George LaMond with Brenda K. Starr (#61); Love Makes Things Happen by Pebbles (#70); Heat of the Moment by After 7 (#73); and Candy by Iggy Pop (#78).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 More than Words Can Say--Alias (2nd week at #1)
2 Stranded--Heart
3 Love Takes Time--Mariah Carey
4 So Close--Daryl Hall John Oates
5 Impulsive--Wilson Phillips
6 Something to Believe In--Poison
7 From a Distance--Bette Midler
8 I’m Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston
9 One and Only Man--Steve Winwood
10 Miracle--Jon Bon Jovi

Singles entering the chart were For You by the Outfield (#65); Justify My Love by Madonna (#79); Wherever Would I Be by Cheap Trick (#86); After the Rain by Nelson (#88); Love Will Never Do (Without You) by Janet Jackson (#91); The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) by Cher (#94); No Tattoos by Andy Curran (#95); Mama Help Me by Edie Brickell and New Bohemians (#96); Anything is Possible by Debbie Gibson (#97); and Does She Love that Man? by Breathe (#99).

Died on this date
Carla Lehmann, 73. Canadian-born U.K. actress. Miss Lehmann, a native of Winnipeg, began her career there on stage before moving to England, where she appeared in plays and 11 films from 1938-1947, as well as several television programs, including the series The Three Hostages (1952).

War
A three-week offensive by rebel forces in Chad ended in success when President Hissene Habre fled from Ndjamena, the capital city, into exile in Cameroon.

Transportation
Construction workers drilled through the final wall of wall of rock to join the two halves of the Channel Tunnel linking Great Britain to France.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. initiated food rationing in Leningrad and three other cities.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio feauring L.V. (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Father and Son--Boyzone

Died on this date
Colin Tapley, 86. N.Z.-born U.K. actor. Mr. Tapley participated in Richard Byrd's first expedition to the Antarctic before moving to England and joining the Royal Air Force. He appeared in minor roles in British and American movies in the 1930s, and interrupted his career to serve in the RAF during World War II. Mr. Tapley appeared in several movies after the war; he was best known for playing Dr. William Glanville in The Dam Busters (1955), but was often typecast as a police inspector.

Politics and government
The Constitution of Nunatsiavut ("our beautiful land") was formally adopted and the the first cabinet was sworn in in Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador; the 5,300 Labrador Inuit and Kablunângajuit (people of mixed Labrador Inuit and European ancestry) were now able to make their own laws relating to cultural affairs, education and health.

Labour
Canadian Human Resources Minister Lloyd Axworthy introduced employment insurance reform measures in the House of Commons. The changes included making part-time workers elegible, and taking into account local unemployment rates when calculating eligibility.