December 29, 2015

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Christine Gotaas!

180 years ago
1835

War
The Treaty of New Echota was signed in New Echota, Georgia by officials of the United States government and the Cherokee Treaty party, ceding all the lands of the Cherokee east of the Mississippi River to the United States.

170 years ago
1845

Americana
In accordance with International Boundary delimitation, the United States annexed the Republic of Texas, following the manifest destiny doctrine. The Republic of Texas, which had been independent since the Texas Revolution of 1836, was thereupon admitted to the Union as the 28th state.

125 years ago
1890

War
Almost 200 Sioux Indian men, women, and children were shot by members of the U.S. 7th Cavalry in a massacre at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. It was the last major action in the various U.S. Indian wars.

Albertana
The Town of Lethbridge was incorporated.

120 years ago
1895

War
The botched Jameson Raid, an attack on the Transvaal Republic led by British Administrator of Rhodesia Leander Starr Jameson, began in Johannesburg.

100 years ago
1915

Born on this date
Robert Ruark. U.S. author. Mr. Ruark was best known for his novel Something of Value (1955), based on his experiences as a big game hunter in Africa. He drank himself to death in London on July 1, 1965 at the age of 49.

Bill Osmanski. U.S. football player. Mr. Osmanski was a fullback with College of the Holy Cross from 1936-1938 and was the first draft choice of the Chicago Bears in 1939, playing with the Bears from 1939-1943 and 1946-1947. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973. Mr. Osmanski died on December 25, 1996, four days before his 81st birthday.

75 years ago
1940

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight’s episode: The Missing Three-Quarter

Movies
The New York Film Critics Circle named its award winners for 1940, which included: Best Picture--The Grapes of Wrath; Best Director--John Ford (The Grapes of Wrath); Best Actor--Charlie Chaplin (The Great Dictator); and Best Actress--Katharine Hepburn (The Philadelphia Story).

War
In the Second Great Fire of London, the German Luftwaffe fire-bombed London, killing almost 200 civilians. The United Kingsom announced that an unidentified German "powerful surface warship" had been routed in the North Atlantic Ocean on December 25 by the British cruiser Berwick.

Defense
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared in a "fireside chat" radio broadcast that the United States must become the "arsenal of democracy," and that full aid must be given to the United Kingdom on a war basis. He added that no threats by dictators could weaken American determination to give Britain all the aid she needed.

Law
Mexican President Manuel Avila Camacho sent a bill to the Chamber of Deputies granting amnesty for political offenders during the recent presidential election campaign.

Labour
Congress of Industrial Organizations United Auto Workers President R.J. Thomas said that the U.S. War Department contract awarded to Ford Motor Company for 1,500 scout cars would "seriously undermine the morale of labor engaged in defense work."

Football
NFL
All-Star Game @ Los Angeles
Chicago Bears 28 NFL All-Stars 14

Sid Luckman won the quarterbacking duel over Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins as the champion Bears defeated the All-Stars at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

70 years ago
1945

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Chickery Chick--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra with Nancy Norman, Billy Williams and the Kaye Choir (Best Seller--3rd week at #1; Juke Box--2nd week at #1); White Christmas--Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra (Airplay--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--7th week at #1)

At the movies
Hitler Lives, an adaptation of the previously released documentary short film Your Job in Germany, opened in theatres.

War
The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) released World War II's casualty statistics: 41,371 Canadians in service killed; 43,178 wounded; 10,844 made prisoners of war; 32 missing in action.

U.S. Army Lieutenant General Albert Wedemeyer announced that American troops would help Nationalist Chinese forces move into Manchuria.

British troops in Indonesia disarmed all Indonesian police on the ground that they had not been able to maintain law and order.

Defense
The United States Army and Navy created a joint advisory board to work with Major General Leslie Groves on the atomic bomb.

Energy
The American Association of Scientific Workers issued a statement supporting the Moscow Agreement for United Nations control of atomic energy.

Politics and government
Brazilian President-elect Eurico Dutra pledged to restore full deomocracy; maintain close ties with the United States; ease immigration laws; and encourage the flow of foreign capital into Brazil.

Labour
The bitter United Auto Workers strike against Ford Motor Company of Canada, which had started on September 12, 1945 when 17,000 workers walked off the job in Windsor, Ontario ended, as both sides agreed to binding arbitration by Justice Ivan Rand.

U.S. National Federation of Telephone Workers President Joseph Beirne appealed to U.S. President Harry Truman to intervene in the dispute between Western Electric and its Employees Association to avert a strike by January 3, 1946.

The U.S. National War Labor Board recommended weekly wage increases of $3 and $4 for 11,500 employees of Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in five states.

Hockey
NHL
Montréal Canadiens' right winger Maurice Richard scored his 100th career National Hockey League goal in his 134th game.

Football
NCAA
Blue-Gray Game @ Montgomery, Alabama
North 26 South 0

50 years ago
1965

Music
The single My World is Empty Without You/Everything is Good About You by the Supremes was released on Motown Records.

40 years ago
1975

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mamma Mia--ABBA (9th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Ano Hi ni Kaeritai--Yumi Arai (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Amor, amor--Lolita (4th week at #1)

Terrorism
A bomb exploded at La Guardia Airport in New York City, killing 11 people and injuring 74. The culprits were never identified, although Croatian nationalists were suspected.

Society
The Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts, radical new legislation introducing a woman's right to equal pay and status, came into force in the United Kingdom.

Hockey
NHL
Super Series '76
Soviet Wings 7 @ Pittsburgh 4

Yuri Liapkin scored 2 goals and 2 assists as the Soviet Wings, playing their first game of the U.S.S.R. exhibition series against National Hockey League teams, defeated the Penguins at Civic Arena. The Wings led 4-0 after the 1st period and made it 5-0 early in the 2nd period before the Penguins scored. Pierre Larouche, Ron Schock, Barry Wilkins, and Lew Morrison scored the Pittsburgh goals.

30 years ago
1985

Terrorism
Libya’s official press agency praised the December 27 terrorist attacks on airports in Rome and Vienna, which had resulted in the deaths of 20 civilians, as heroic.

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
San Francisco 3 @ New York Giants 17

25 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Unchained Melody--The Righteous Brothers (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Aihakatsu--KAN (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Attenti Al Lupo--Lucio Dalla

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I've Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Sadeness (Part 1)--Enigma

#1 single in France (SNEP): Petit Frank--François Feldman

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Ice Ice Baby--Vanilla Ice (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Saviour's Day--Cliff Richard

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Justify My Love--Madonna
2 Because I Love You (The Postman Song)--Stevie B
3 Impulsive--Wilson Phillips
4 Tom’s Diner--D.N.A. featuring Suzanne Vega
5 High Enough--Damn Yankees
6 Love Will Never Do (Without You)--Janet Jackson
7 Sensitivity--Ralph Tresvant
8 From a Distance--Bette Midler
9 I’m Your Baby Tonight--Whitney Houston
10 The First Time--Surface

Singles entering the chart were It Never Rains (In Southern California) by Tony! Toni! Tone! (#54); Go for It! (Heart and Fire) by Joey B. Ellis and Tynetta Hare (#63); Don’t Hold Back Your Love by Daryl Hall John Oates (#66); I've Been Waiting for You by Guys Next Door (#76); One More Try by Timmy -T- (#79); Caroline by Concrete Blonde (#85); and Pick Up the Pace 1990 by Young M.C. (#88).

Politics and government
A week after taking office as President of Poland, Lech Walesa named economist Jan Krzysztof Bielecki as Premier.

20 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Gangsta's Paradise--Coolio feauring L.V. (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Father and Son--Boyzone (5th week at #1)

At the movies
Mr. Holland's Opus, directed by Stephen Herek, and starring Richard Dreyfuss and Glenne Headly, opened in theatres in limited release.



Died on this date
Lita Grey, 87. U.S. actress. Miss Grey, born Lillita MacMurray, was married to Charlie Chaplin from 1924-1927, and appeared in his movies The Kid (1921) and The Idle Class (1921).

Politics and government
An agreement was signed to begin the transfer of some civil powers in Hebron from Israel to the Palestinian Authority.

Another member of the British House of Commons defected from the government of Prime Minister John Major, reducing the Conservative majority to 3 seats.

Economics and finance
Canadian Minister of International Trade Art Eggleton announced that Canada and Chile would pursue a free trade agreement without the participation of the United States.

Skiing
Edi Podivinsky of Canada won the bronze medal in the FIS World Cup Bormio downhill race at Bormio, Italy.

Hockey
NHL
Detroit 2 @ Dallas 1

Scotty Bowman coached his 1,607th career game, becoming the National Hockey League's career leader in games coached, as his Red Wings edged the Stars 2-1 at Reunion Arena. Mr. Bowman passed former St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders coach Al Arbour.