April 2, 2017

225 years ago
1792

Born on this date
Francisco de Paula Santander. 4th President of the Republic of New Granada, 1832-1837. Brigadier General Santander made his name in the revolutionary army during the independence war of the United Provinces of New Grenada in the 1810s and was acting President of Gran Colombia from 1819-1826 before being exiled after being blamed for an assassination attempt on actual President Simón Bolívar. He returned from exile in 1832 to assume the presidency of New Grenada, an office he held for one term. Brigadier General Santander died on May 6, 1840 at the age of 48.

Economics and finance
The United States Congress passed the Coinage Act, authorizing the first U.S. Mint, in Philadelphia.

100 years ago
1917

War
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war on Germany, saying, "The world must be made safe for democracy."

75 years ago
1942

At the movies
My Favorite Blonde, starring Bob Hope and Madeleine Carroll, opened in theatres.



War
British Royal Air Force planes bombed the Matford truck plant in Poisey and docks and shipping in Le Havre, France. Allied forces in Bataan successfully counter-attacked, restoring their defense lines and halting the Japanese advance.

Politics and government
Juan Antonio Rios was inaugurated in Santiago as President of Chile for a four-year term.

The working committee of the All-India Congress Party rejected the British plan for Indian independence from British rule.

Crime
One white soldier and two Negroes were shot to death, and five Negroes were wounded, in a fight over the use of a telephone near Fort Dix, New Jersey.

70 years ago
1947

War
Rudolf Hoess, former commandant of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, Poland, was sentenced to death in Warsaw for supervising the extermination of concentration camp inmates. The U.K. House of Commons ratified the Italian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Finnish peace treaties.

Nationalist Chinese forces reported capturing Taian, the last big Communist base on the southern Shantung section of the Tientsin-Pukow railroad.

Hindu-Muslim warfare continued in India's main cities, with 10 deaths in southwestern Punjab and the imposition of curfews in three towns.

Diplomacy
The United Nations Security Council approved U.S. trusteeship over the formerly Japanese-mandated Caroline, Marshall, and Mariana Islands. British representative Sir Alexander Cadogan formally requested a special United Nations General Assembly session on Palestine.

A Yugoslavian delegation arrived in Moscow to present the foreign ministers conference with Yugoslavia's claim to Austrian Carinthia and $150 million in German reparations.

The 10-day Inter-Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi ended after voting to create an Asian Relations Organization with a 30-man General Council headed by Jawaharlal Nehru of India.

South Americana
Argentina's Marine Ministry laid claim to the Melchior Archipelago in Antarctica.

Torontonia
The first cocktail bars opened in "Toronto the Good." The popular Silver Rail, at the northeast corner of Yonge and Shuter, combined a restaurant with a spectacular gleaming chrome and neon drinking lounge, modeled after classic New York diners, with semi-circular booths and a polished 100-foot bar running the length of the building. Previously bars, had been restricted to beer and wine only.

Boxing
Former world bantamweight champion Harold Dade (19-2-3) won a 10-round decision over Tony Olivera (75-22-13) at Oakland Auditorium.

60 years ago
1957

At the movies
Interpol, directed by John Gilling, and starring Victor Mature, Anita Ekberg, and Trevor Howard, received its premiere screening in London. It was released in the United States four months later under the title Pickup Alley.



Music
Elvis Presley performed two concerts before 23,000 people at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto; his second concert, before 15,000 fans, was the largest audience he had faced to date. The warmup acts included an Irish tenor, a tap dancer, and a comedian who imitated a woman taking off a girdle.



World events
The Haitian Army arrested and then announced the resignation of provisional President Franck Sylvain, who was accused of rigging the planned presidential election in favour of Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier.

Defense
U.S. Secretary of Stae John Foster Dulles denied assertions that the United States had promised to defend the Nationalist Chinese-held islands of Quemoy and Matsu against any Communist attack.

Politics and government
Ralph Yarborough (Democrat), a three-time loser in Texas gubernatorial contests, defeated 16 Democrats and 2 Republicans to win election to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Price Daniel when he became Governor of Texas.

Norris Poulson was re-elected Mayor of Los Angeles, while Raymond Tucker was re-elected Mayor of St. Louis.

Economics and finance
The United States and Morocco formalized a pact in Rabat, giving Morocco $20 million in foreign aid funds.

Health
The death toll in the 10-week smallpox epidemic in Calcutta was reported to have risen to 946.

50 years ago
1967

Hockey
CPHL
Adams Cup
Semi-Finals
Oklahoma City 2 @ Houston 1 (OT) (Oklahoma City led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Ross Lonsberry scored at 7:56 of the 1st overtime period to give the Blazers their win over the Apollos.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Honky Tonky Train Blues--Keith Emerson (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Swiss Lady--Pepe Lienhard Band

#1 single in the Netherlands (Veronica Top 40): Go Your Own Way--Fleetwood Mac (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Chanson D'Amour--The Manhattan Transfer (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K (BMRB): Knowing Me, Knowing You--ABBA

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Rich Girl--Daryl Hall and John Oates (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Dancing Queen--ABBA
2 Rich Girl--Daryl Hall and John Oates
3 Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul
4 Don't Leave Me this Way--Thelma Houston
5 The Things We Do for Love--10 C.C.
6 Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen)--Barbra Streisand
7 I've Got Love on My Mind--Natalie Cole
8 So In to You--Atlanta Rhythm Section
9 Southern Nights--Glen Campbell
10 Maybe I'm Amazed--Wings

Singles entering the chart were Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder (#67); My Sweet Lady by John Denver (#84); Sleepwalker by the Kinks (#86); Calling Occupants by Klaatu (#91); Every Little Teardrop by Gallagher and Lyle (#92); Lucille by Kenny Rogers (#94); Undercover Angel by Alan O'Day (#96); Theme from "Baa Baa Black Sheep" by Mike Post (#97); That Magic Touch by Angel (#98); and Down to the Station by B.W. Stevenson (#100). Klaatu were believed by some to be the Beatles recording under another name, but turned out to be a group from Toronto. Theme from "Baa Baa Black Sheep," as the title indicates, was from the television series.

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Dancing Queen--ABBA
2 Love Theme from "A Star is Born" (Evergreen)--Barbra Streisand
3 I Like Dreamin'--Kenny Nolan
4 The Things We Do for Love--10 C.C.
5 Carry On Wayward Son--Kansas
6 Rich Girl--Daryl Hall and John Oates
7 Fly Like an Eagle--Steve Miller Band
8 Don't Leave Me this Way--Thelma Houston
9 Long Time--Boston
10 Don't Give Up on Us--David Soul

Singles entering the chart were Old Fashioned Boy (You're the One) by Stallion (#95); Love is Better in the A.M. by Johnnie Taylor (#97); Lonely Boy by Andrew Gold (#98); Cinderella by Firefall (#99); and Your Own Special Way by Genesis (#100).

Music
Genesis performed at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Vancouverana
The restored Orpheum Theatre opened as the new home for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; originally a vaudeville hall when it opened in 1927, the Orpheum was used mainly as a movie theatre from the 1930s through the mid-1970s, when it was threatened with destruction but was saved as the result of a public campaign.

Horse racing
Red Rum, a 12-year-old with Tommy Stack up, won the Grand National steeplechase in England for the third time, having won it in 1973 and 1974, and finishing second in each of the next two years.

Curling
Silver Broom @ Ishall, Karlstad, Sweden
Semi-Finals
Sweden 5 United States 0
Canada 8 Scotland 5

Ragnar Kamp's Swedish rink shut out the American rink of defending world champion Bruce Roberts.

Hockey
NHL
Buffalo 1 @ Toronto 1
Washington 0 @ Montreal 11
Minnesota 2 @ Los Angeles 7

The Canadiens set a National Hockey League record of 34 straight home games without a loss as they routed the Capitals at the Montreal Forum.

Marcel Dionne scored his 50th goal of the season to help the Kings beat the North Stars at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

WHA
Edmonton 4 @ Calgary 4

Rookie Calgary defenceman Joe Micheletti scored the tying goal with 17 seconds remaining in regulation time before 7,390 fans at the Stampede Corral as the Cowboys tied the Oilers to keep their slim playoff hopes aloive.

30 years ago
1987

Died on this date
Buddy Rich, 69. U.S. musician. Bernard Rich was known as the world’s greatest drummer. Mr. Rich specialized in jazz and big band music--performing with the bands of Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, and others--before starting his own band, which he led until his death from heart failure following surgery for a malignant brain tumour.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Tears In Heaven--Eric Clapton (2nd week at #1)

Politics and government
France’s first female Prime Minister, Edith Cresson, resigned after 11 months in office. Her popularity had declined in the wake of financial scandals and a high unemployment rate, and her Socialist Party had done poorly in regional elections. President Francois Mitterand named Finance Minister Pierre Beregovoy to succeed Ms. Cresson.

Protest
Libyan demonstrators in Tripoli attacked the embassies of countries that had approved United Nations sanctions against Libya. The sanctions, aimed at forcing Libya to hand over two men suspected of terrorist bombings of two airliners in the late 1980s, were to take effect on April 15.

Crime
John Gotti, described by police and prosecutors as leader of the Gambino crime family, was convicted in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn of crimes that included murder, extortion, and obstruction of justice. A co-defendant, Frank Locascio, was convicted of racketeering and murder. Mr Gotti had been acquitted of other charges in three other trials, but former associate Salvatore Gravano testified to Mr. Gotti’s involvement in 10 murders, including the 1985 killing of Paul Castellano, reputed boss of the Gambino family at the time. Mr. Gravano, who admitted to involvement in 19 murders, was assured of no more than 20 years in prison as a result of his co-operation with the prosecution.

Disasters
69 horses were killed in a stable fire at Mohawk Raceway in Guelph, Ontario; it was the worst racetrack fire in Canadian history.

10 years ago
2007

Abominations
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases were air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.