February 19, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Lee Morrow and Jackie Strip!

175 years ago
1841

Born on this date
Elfrida Andrée. Swedish musician and composer. Miss Andrée became the organist at Gothenburg Cathedral in 1867, and was appointed cantor in 1908, holding the positions until her death on January 11, 1929 at the age of 87. She wrote orchestral, chamber, and vocal works, and many works for organ and piano.

170 years ago
1846

Politics and government
The newly-formed Texas state government was officially installed in Austin. The Republic of Texas government officially transferred power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States.

120 years ago
1896

Born on this date
Wayne Munn. U.S. football player and wrestler. Mr. Munn was a lineman with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers before becoming a professional wrestler in 1924. He was boosted by Ed "Strangler" Lewis as the next big star in wrestling, and won the National Wrestling Alliance world heavyweight title from Mr. Lewis in 1925, becoming the first pure performer (i.e., someone without legitimate wrestling skills or background) to win a professional world championship. Just three months after winning the title, Mr. Munn was defeated by Stanislaus Zbyszko despite a previous agreement for Mr. Munn to win the match. Mr. Munn retired from wrestling in 1926, and died from kidney problems on January 9, 1931 at the age of 34.

André Breton. French poet and author. Mr. Breton was the co-founder, leader, principal theorist and chief apologist of surrealism. His works included the first Manifeste du surréalisme (Surrealist Manifesto) (1924) and the novel Nadja (1928). Mr. Breton became an anarchist before the end of World War II, and died of repiratory failure on September 28, 1966 at the age of 70.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Eddie Arcaro. U.S. jockey. Mr. Arcaro won 4,779 races in a career that spanned 30 years. He won the Triple Crown aboard Whirlaway in 1941 and Citation in 1948, and remains the only jockey to ride two Triple Crown winners. Mr. Arcaro was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1958 and died on November 14, 1997 at the age of 81.

Died on this date
Ernst Mach, 78. Austrian-born German physicist and philosopher. Dr. Mach was best known for his study of shock waves and for the Mach number--a dimensionless quantity representing the ratio of flow velocity past a boundary to the local speed of sound. As a philosopher, Dr. Mach believed in a type of phenomenalism that recognized only sensations as real, and was criticized for denying the existence of atoms. Dr. Mach died the day after his 78th birthday.

80 years ago
1936

Died on this date
Billy Mitchell, 56. U.S. military officer. Major General Mitchell was known as the father of the United States Air Force. His advocacy of the importance of air power and his criticism of U.S. defense policy led to a famous court martial in 1925. Gen. Mitchell was convicted of violating the 96th Article of War and was suspended for five years without pay, but he chose to resign from the United States Army. He continued to advocate air power until his death from natural causes.

75 years ago
1941

War
The British government of Prime Minister Winston Churchill revealed that it had received on February 17 a formal Japanese offer to mediate the European war, and that the offer was now being studied.

Abominations
A report from Berlin stated that 10,000 Jews had been rounded up in Vienna the previous week for transportation to eastern Poland.

Politics and government
The Missouri Supreme Court ordered the Democratic-controlled state legislature to seat Forrest Donnell (Republican) as Governor.

Crime
The U.S. Justice Department reported that serious crimes had risen 2.2% in 1940, to a total of 1,517,026.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill raising the federal debt limit from $49 billion to $65 billion.

Business
A U.S. federal grand jury in Philadelphia indicted the American Surgical Trade Association on charges of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act by controlling the sale of 95% of all surgical supplies.

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) accepted a consent decree, ending the U.S. government's antitrust suits and providing that users of ASCAP-controlled music would pay only for the songs that they actually used.

Disasters
The Danube River overflowed in the northern Bachka and Benat districts of Yugoslavia, flooding 50,000 acres and leaving 1,000 people homeless.

70 years ago
1946

War
At the hearings of the United States Senate committee on the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Colonel Walter Phillips, chief of staff to General Walter Short--U.S. Army commander at Pearl Harbor in 1941--testified that the Army-Navy Joint Planning Commission never met between November 27-December 7, 1941 despite the war warning from Washington.

Defense
U.S. Secretary of State James Byrnes said that there had been no leaks of U.S. atomic information, and that the United States had exclusive knowledge of the methods of manufacturing the atomic bomb.

Diplomacy
The Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Jewish problems announced in Vienna that it had been refused permission to enter Hungary and Romania.

The government of Brazil refused to accept newly-appointed Spanish Ambassador Eduardo Aunos, accusing him of having ties to the Nazis.

World events
Hungarian Roman Catholic Primate Josef Cardinal Mindszenty, who had denounced both German and Soviet occupation of his country, arrived in Rome from Budapest.

Politics and government
Kim Il Sung was named chairman of the North Korean People's Government in Pyongyang, while the Democratic People's Front claimed sole authority to form an interim government in Seoul.

The army, navy, and air force took over the task of preserving order in Argentina until after the presidential elections.

British Prime Minister Clement Attlee appointed a commission of three cabinet ministers to negotiate with Indian leaders on creation of a constituent assembly and executive council as a step toward self-government for India.

U.S. President Harry Truman named Max Gardner to succeed Daniel Bell as Undersecretary of the Treasury.

Education
The American Council on Education revealed in Washington that one million military veterans had applied for educational and vocational courses under the GI Bill of Rights.

Health
Dr. I.M. Rabinowitch reported that a 15-year test of a high-carbohydrate diet on 5,000 diabetics showed that diabetics may eat an ordinary amount of sweets and starches, but must avoid fats.

Economics and finance
In what analysts said was a reaction to U.S. Office of Price Administration Director Chester Bowles' support for the extension of price controls, prices on the New York Stock Exchange dropped 2-7 points, the sharpest decline since 1940.

60 years ago
1956

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Safe Conduct, starring Claire Trevor, Jacques Bergerac, and Werner Klemperer

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): We Can Work it Out/Day Tripper--The Beatles (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Michelle--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Nessuno mi può giudicare--Caterina Caselli (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Yesterday Man--Chris Andrews (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Michelle--The Beatles; The Overlanders (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): 19th Nervous Breakdown--The Rolling Stones

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Lightnin' Strikes--Lou Christie

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Lightnin' Strikes--Lou Christie (2nd week at #1)
2 My Love--Petula Clark
3 Uptight (Everything's Alright)--Stevie Wonder
4 These Boots are Made for Walkin'--Nancy Sinatra
5 My World is Empty Without You--The Supremes
6 Crying Time--Ray Charles
7 Barbara Ann--The Beach Boys
8 Zorba the Greek--Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
9 Don't Mess with Bill--The Marvelettes
10 Going to a Go-Go--The Miracles

Singles entering the chart were One More Heartache by Marvin Gaye (#77); Why Can't You Bring Me Home by Jay & the Americans (#79); Magic Town by the Vogues (#80); Shake Me, Wake Me (When it's Over) by the Four Tops (#82); I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry by B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs (#87); Promise Her Anything by Tom Jones (#88); The One on the Right is on the Left by Johnny Cash (#93); This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) by the Isley Brothers (#98); The Weekend by Jack Jones (#100); and Whenever She Holds You by Patty Duke (also #100).

Music
Bob Dylan performed at Ottawa Auditorium, the first Canadian concert of his 1966 world tour.

Football
NCAA
Longtime assistant coach Joe Paterno was named head football coach at Pennsylvania State University effective July 1, 1966, replacing the retiring Rip Engle.

40 years ago
1976

Diplomacy
Iceland broke diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom over disputed cod fishing by British trawlers in Icelandic waters.

Politics and government
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada opened its leadership convention at Ottawa Civic Centre with former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker delivering the evening keynote speech. He criticized current Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and stated that the Liberal Party was no longer the Liberal Party, but had become the "Trudeau Party."

Law
Executive Order 9066, which had led to the relocation of Japanese-Americans to internment camps during World War II, was rescinded by President Gerald Ford's Proclamation 4417.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Say You, Say Me--Lionel Richie (7th week at #1)

Diplomacy
The United States Senate voted 83-11 to ratify a United Nations treaty outlawing genocide. The U.S. had signed the treaty in 1984, and 90 nations had subsequently ratified it. Passage in the U.S. had been delayed because some Senators feared that it would compromise national sovereignty, but amendments were added to meet this concern. The International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide defined as an international crime any act "committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group."

King Hussein of Jordan abandoned negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization after two weeks of talks intended to revive the Middle East peace process. The king accused PLO leader Yasser Arafat of breaking his word after he had won concessions from the United States. King Hussein said that the United States had been prepared to invite the PLO to a Middle East peace conference if the PLO had accepted United Nations resolutions, renounced terrorism, and agreed to negotiate with Israel.

Abominations
The Sri Lankan Army reportedly massacred 80 Tamil farm workers in the eastern province of Sri Lanka.

Politics and government
The United States Senate voted 85-9 to regard the February 7 Philippines presidential election as fraudulent. Embattled Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos threatened to use his powers "to the limit" to prevent turmoil.

Disasters
William Rogers, chairman of the presidential commission investigating the January 28 explosion of the U.S. space shuttle Challenger, said that Morton Thiokol Inc., manufacturer of rocket parts, had initially recommended against launching on January 28 because of the cold weather, but then had reversed its recommendation. The panel found that three key NASA officials had not been informed of Morton Thiokol’s initial recommendation not to launch.

Hockey
NHL
Toronto 5 @ Edmonton 9

This blogger attended the game at Northlands Coliseum, but left after the 2nd period with the Oilers leading 7-2.

25 years ago
1991

War
U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf said that the Iraqi forces were "on the verge of collapse." Lt. Gen. Thomas Kelly, chief of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said "we are ready now" to attack on the ground.

Politics and government
Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin called for the resignation of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. He criticized Mr. Gorbachev for wanting to hold on to the old system; for not wanting to grant independence to republics wanting it; and for leading the country to dictatorship under the name of "presidential rule."

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Children--Robert Miles

#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Spaceman--Babylon Zoo

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Missing--Everything But the Girl
2 Time--Hootie & the Blowfish
3 One Sweet Day--Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
4 One of Us--Joan Osborne
5 I Want to Come Over--Melissa Etheridge
6 Wildest Dreams--Tom Cochrane
7 Name--Goo Goo Dolls
8 The World I Know--Collective Soul
9 You'll See--Madonna
10 Waiting for Tonight--Tom Petty

Singles entering the chart were Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot by Sting (#79); Please by Elton John (#86); Nobody Knows by the Tony Rich Project (#87); Blow Wind Blow by Alannah Myles (#90); Be My Lover by La Bouche (#91); and High and Dry by Radiohead (#92).

Died on this date
Ernest Manning, 87. Canadian politician. Mr. Manning, a member of the Social Credit Party, was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935-1968. He served as Provincial Secretary and Minister of Trade and Industry before succeeding William Aberhart as Premier of Alberta upon Mr. Aberhart's death in 1943. Mr. Manning served as Premier for 25 years, and became the best Premier Alberta has ever had, doing more than anyone else to modernize the province. He was named to the Canadian Senate in 1970, and served as the only Social Credit Senator in Canadian history until reaching the mandatory retirement age in 1983. Mr. Manning's son Preston led the Reform Party of Canada from 1987-2000.

Charlie Finley, 77. U.S. baseball executive. Mr. Finley was an insurance executive who bought the Kansas City Athletics from Arnold Johnson in 1961. He moved the team to Oakland after the 1967 season and sold them in 1980. Mr. Finley's teams won five straight American League West Division championships from 1971-1975 and three straight World Series from 1972-1974. Mr. Finley promoted innovations such as night games in the World Series and orange baseballs for night games, but was also known as being a difficult and often unpleasant man to work with and for. When free agency became part of major league baseball after the 1976 season, Mr. Finley lacked the money to be competitive, and the Athletics became the worst organization in baseball.

Economics and finance
The Royal Canadian Mint put the new $2 coin into circulation; the bimetallic polar bear, quickly dubbed the "toonie," replaced the $2 bill.

Protest
One million people took to the streets in Madrid in a silent protest against Basque separatist terrorism, after two political killings and a kidnapping.

A mutiny of Congolese soldiers in protest against nonpayment of wages ended after five days.

Health
The World Health Organization confirmed that 13 people in Gabon had died of the Ebola virus.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 5 @ Colorado 7

Patrick Roy became the second-youngest goaltender and 12th in National Hockey League history to reach 300 career victories as the Avalanche beat the Oilers at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver.

10 years ago
2006

Disasters
A methane explosion in a coal mine near Nueva Rosita, Mexico, killed 65 miners.

Olympics
Canada won two more medals in the Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, as Cindy Klassen won a silver medal in the women's 1000-metre speed skating event, while Pierre Lueders and Lascelles Brown won a silver in the two-man competition in bobsleigh.