April 4, 2017

225 years ago
1792

Born on this date
Thaddeus Stevens. U.S. politician. Mr. Stevens, a Whig and then a Republican, represented Pennsylvania's 8th District in the United States House of Representatives from 1849-1853 and Pennsylvania's 9th District from 1859 until his death on August 11, 1868 at the age of 76. He was a strong opponent of slavery and advocate of racial equality and the post-Civil War policy of radical Reconstruction in southern States. Mr. Stevens opposed the policies of President Andrew Johnson, and supported his impeachment. Opinion on Mr. Stevens was, and remains, divided. Thomas Dixon, in his novel The Clansman (1905), which was the basis for the movie The Birth of a Nation (1915), had a character named Austin Stoneman--an undisguised portrayal of Thaddeus Stevens--who was depicted most unfavourably.

150 years ago
1867

Disasters
A coalpit explosion in Chesterfield County, Virginia resulted in 69 deaths.

130 years ago
1887

Diplomacy
The first Imperial Conference opened in London; Sir Alexander Campbell and Sandford Fleming represented Canada.

Politics and government
Argonia, Kansas elected Susanna Salter as the first female mayor in the United States.

110 years ago
1907

Born on this date
Robert Askin. Australian politician. Sir Robert, a member of the Liberal Party, represented Collaroy (1950-1973) and Pittwater (1973-1975) in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He was elected Liberal Party leader in 1959, serving as Leader of the Opposition (1959-1965) and Premier of New South Wales (1965-1975). Sir Robert's time as Premier was marked by an increase in public works and electoral and legal reforms. He died of heart failure on September 9, 1981 at the age of 74, after years of declining health; immediately upon his death, Sir Robert was accused of corruption and bribery involving organized crime figures.

Disasters
The derelict remains of Granite City, British Columbia, burned.

100 years ago
1917

Politics and government
Walter Foster took office as Premier of New Brunswick, leading a Liberal government that had defeated the incumbent Conservative government of Premier James A. Murray in the February 24 provincial election.

80 years ago
1937

Golf
Byron Nelson made up six shots within two holes in the final round of the Masters at Augusta national Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia to overtake Ralph Guldahl and win by two strokes, claiming first prize money of $1,500. Mr. Nelson played holes 12 and 13 in 2 and 3 strokes, respectively, while Mr. Guldahl scored 5 and 6 there. The bridge over Rae's Creek on No. 13 is now called the Nelson Bridge in honour of his feat.

75 years ago
1942

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Moonlight Cocktail--Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (6th week at #1)

War
Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron Leader L.J. Birchall spotted Japanese fleet heading for Ceylon; he alerted the naval base and averted disaster for the British Fleet. Fierce fighting raged on Bataan as Japanese forces attacked the centre of Allied defense line, registering small gains. Curacao Governor G.J.J. Wouters announced that all Dutch forces in and around Curacao and Aruba had been placed under the command of Rear Admiral J.B. Oldendorf of the United States Navy.

Diplomacy
British Army General Sir Archibald Wavell conferred in New Delhi with Maulan Abdul Kalam Azad and Jawaharlal Nehru regarding postwar independence for India.

The U.S. State Department announced U.S. recognition of Free French control over Cameroon and French Equatorial Africa, and also announced the appointment of Maynard Barnes as U.S. Consul General at Brazzaville.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 3 @ Toronto 2 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Don Grosso scored his second goal of the game to break a 2-2 tie with 5:49 remaining in the 2nd period, and it held up for the win as the Red Wings edged the Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens.

70 years ago
1947

War
French reinforcements were flown to Madagascar to help suppress a nationalist revolt.

Diplomacy
Acting U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson named Henry Grady as the first U.S. Ambassador to India.

Protest
Opposition parties in Romania protested to King Michael the previous month's arrest of 263 conservative politicians.

60 years ago
1957

At the movies
Man Afraid, directed by Harry Keller, and starring George Nader, Phyllis Thaxter, and Tim Hovey, opened in theatres.



Died on this date
E. Herbert Norman, 47. Japanese-born Canadian diplomat. Dr. Norman, the son of Canadian Methodist missionary parents, went to the University of Toronto and then Cambridge University, where he adopted Marxist views and became involved in a circle that eventually produced Soviet spies such as Guy Burgess, Donald Maclean, Kim Philby, and Anthony Blunt. Dr. Norman did a doctoral program at Harvard University, joined the Canadian Foreign Service in 1939, and was posted to Tokyo in 1940. After the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Dr. Norman was briefly interned, and then repatriated to Canada. He returned to Japan at the end of World War II and worked with the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP) administration under the direction of U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur. Dr. Norman and General MacArthur differed in their views of Japanese postwar administration. Dr. Norman's decision to allow the Japanese Communist Party to remain while other parties were disallowed was one of the decisions that led to U.S. suspicions that he was a Communist and/or a Soviet agent. Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs Lester Pearson supported Dr. Norman, but was willing to placate the United States, and appointed Dr. Norman as Canadian High Commissioner to New Zealand. Dr. Norman was then appointed Canadian Ambassador to Egypt, arriving just in time for the Suez Crisis in the fall of 1956. He played a key role in negotiations among the U.S.A., U.K., France, and Egypt, but again fell under suspicion as allegations about his past were brought up. Dr. Norman walked up to the roof of an eight-storey apartment building in Cairo and stepped backward off the roof to his death. Mr. Pearson told Parliament that Mr. Norman's death was the result of renewal "by one or two persons in Washington" of "old charges affecting his loyalty." Canadian historian John Price presented a sympathetic view of Dr. Norman, while Canadian political science professor James Barros, in his book No Sense of Evil (1986), took a considerably more critical view.

World events
Cyprus Governor John Harding lifted emergency regulations on press censorship, travel, and the death penalty for carrying arms.

Diplomacy
Jordanian Prime Minister Suleiman Nabulsi said that his government had rejected U.S. economic assistance, charging that the U.S. government refused to aid Jordan unless the Jordanian government "severs its ties with Egypt" and "consents to resettlement of Palestine refugees in Jordan."

Defense
The British government of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan issued a white paper outlining a five-year program for reshaping the United Kingdom's armed forces to atomic and missile warfare needs.

U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower conferred the National Security Medal on Major General William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan, head of the Office of Secret Services during World War II.

Education
U.S. President Eisenhower, addressing the National Education Association in Washington, again called for a temporary school-building program to correct a shortage. The House of Representatives Education subcommittee approved a compromise $2-billion school construction bill.

Economics and finance
The U.S. House of Representatives Banking Committee approved an omnibus housing bil providing $2.5 billion for mortgage financeing; $250 million for slum clearance; and $300 million for military housing.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
New York 3 @ Montreal 4 (OT) (Montreal won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Maurice "Rocket" Richard scored 1:11 into the 1st overtime period as the Canadiens eliminated the Rangers at the Montreal Forum. A shot from Mr. Richard's brother Henri hit the Rocket in the stomach and dropped to the ice, and when New York goalie Gump Worsley lunged for the puck, Rocket Richard lifted it over him into the net.

50 years ago
1967

On television tonight
The Fugitive, starring David Janssen, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Walls of Night, with guest stars Janice Rule, Steve Ihnat, and Sheree North

Died on this date
Al Lewis, 65. U.S. songwriter. Mr. Lewis was a Tin Pan Alley lyricist whose songs included You Gotta Be a Football Hero (1933) and Blueberry Hill (1940). After Fats Domino's version of Blueberry Hill became a hit in 1956, Mr. Lewis's career revived with songs such as Tears on My Pillow (1958) and I'm Ready (1959). Mr. Lewis died two weeks before his 66th birthday.

Politics and government
Former Defense Minister Petrus de Jong took office as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, ending a 47-day crisis during which then-Prime Minister Jelle Zijlstra had failed to form a coalition cabinet.

Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson named Pierre Trudeau, John Turner, and Jean Chrétien to his cabinet. Mr. Trudeau became Minister of Justice and Attorney General; Mr. Turner became Registrar General; and Mr. Chrétien was appointed Minister without Portfolio.

Boxing
George Chuvalo (45-13-2) scored a technical knockout of Willi Besmanoff (50-32-8) at 1:02 of the 3rd round of their heavyweight bout at Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida.

World bantamweight champion Fighting Harada (47-3), fighting as a featherweight, won a 12-round unanimous decision over Tiny Palacio (15-6-4) in Fukuoka, Japan.

40 years ago
1977

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Torn Between Two Lovers--Mary MacGregor (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Carmen '77--Pink Lady (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Daddy Cool--Boney M. (7th week at #1)

Diplomacy
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and U.S. President Jimmy Carter began two days of talks on Middle East peace terms and Egypt's request for U.S. military and economic aid.

After a month-long tour of eight Arab and Negro African nations, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro arrived in Moscow to meet with Soviet officials.

Hockey
WHA
Winnipeg 2 @ Edmonton 6

30 years ago
1987

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: Si può dare di più--Gianni Morandi, Enrico Ruggeri, Umberto Tozzi (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Final Countdown--Europe (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Respectable--Mel and Kim (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Respectable--Mel and Kim (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): With or Without You--U2

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Respectable--Mel and Kim (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Let it Be--Ferry Aid

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship
2 Lean on Me--Club Nouveau
3 Tonight, Tonight, Tonight--Genesis
4 Let's Wait Awhile--Janet Jackson
5 Mandolin Rain--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
6 Come Go with Me--Expose
7 I Knew You were Waiting (For Me)--Aretha Franklin and George Michael
8 Somewhere Out There--Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
9 Don't Dream it's Over--Crowded House
10 The Final Countdown--Europe

Singles entering the chart were I Know What I Like by Huey Lewis and the News (#62); Day-In Day-Out by David Bowie (#65); Lessons in Love by Level 42 (#79); Living in a Dream by Pseudo Echo (#84); Don't Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush (#85); and Just to See Her by Smokey Robinson (#86).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now--Starship (2nd week at #1)
2 Somewhere Out There--Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
3 Livin' on a Prayer--Bon Jovi
4 Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox
5 The Final Countdown--Europe
6 Montego Bay--Amazulu
7 (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)--Beastie Boys
8 Lean on Me--Club Nouveau
9 At this Moment--Billy Vera and the Beaters
10 Will You Still Love Me?--Chicago

Singles entering the chart were La Isla Bonita by Madonna (#74); Day-In Day-Out by David Bowie (#81); Big Love by Fleetwood Mac (#83); First We Take Manhattan by Jennifer Warnes (#92); Stone Love by Kool & The Gang (#94); How Many Lies by Spandau Ballet (#96); and As We Lay by Shirley Murdock (#97). Big Love was the first single to be released from the album Tango in the Night; the B-side, You and I Part 1, didn't appear on the album, but was one of the group's catchiest tunes.

25 years ago
1992

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Marvellous!--The Twelfth Man featuring MC Hammer

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kanashimi hayuki no yoni--Shogo Hamada (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Human Touch---Bruce Springsteen (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Human Touch---Bruce Springsteen (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): I Can't Dance--Genesis

#1 single in France (SNEP): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Under the Bridge--Red Hot Chili Peppers

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Stay--Shakespears Sister (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Save the Best for Last--Vanessa Williams (3rd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Save the Best for Last--Vanessa Williams
2 Remember the Time--Michael Jackson
3 I Can't Dance--Genesis
4 Masterpiece--Atlantic Starr
5 Tears in Heaven--Eric Clapton
6 To Be with You--Mr. Big
7 Make it Happen--Mariah Carey
8 Justified & Ancient--The KLF (featuring Tammy Wynette)
9 Thinkin' Back--Color Me Badd
10 Good for Me--Amy Grant

Singles entering the chart were Let's Get Rocked by Def Leppard (#76); Will You Marry Me? by Paula Abdul (#80) Just Another Day by Jon Secada (#85); and Not the Only One by Bonnie Raitt (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 To Be with You--Mr. Big (5th week at #1)
2 Tears in Heaven--Eric Clapton
3 Hazard--Richard Marx
4 Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven--Bryan Adams
5 Remember the Time--Michael Jackson
6 I Can't Dance--Genesis
7 Good for Me--Amy Grant
8 Justified & Ancient--The KLF (featuring Tammy Wynette)
9 Human Touch--Bruce Springsteen
10 Again Tonight--John Mellencamp

Singles entering the chart were Help Me Up by Eric Clapton (#74); Will You Marry Me by Paula Abdul (#84); Honestly by Harem Scarem (#86); Makin' Some Noise by Tom Petty (#88); Find the Wall by Kim Mitchell (#92); Hail Hail Rock 'N Roll by Garland Jeffreys (#93); Wishes by the Boomers (#94); and Jesus He Knows Me by Genesis (#95). Help Me Up was from the movie Rush (1991).

Died on this date
Samuel Reshevsky, 80. Polish-born U.S. chess player. Mr. Reshevsky, a Grandmaster, won the United States championship seven times and was a leading contender for the world championship from the 1930s to the 1960s.

War
1,200 United Nations peacekeeping troops arrived in Croatia.

20 years ago
1997

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): Warum?--Tic Tac Toe (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Vänner--Together (6th week at #1)

At the movies
Inventing the Abbotts, starring Liv Tyler, Jennifer Connelly, Joanna Going, Joaquin Phoenix, and Billy Crudup, opened in theatres.



Space
The U.S. space shuttle Columbia lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin mission STS-83, scheduled to last 16 days. The seven-member crew was commanded by James Halsell.

10 years ago
2007

Died on this date
Bob Clark, 67. U.S. movie director. Mr. Clark spent most of his life in the United States, but achieved his first successes while working in Canada from 1973-1983, winning a Genie Award for directing Murder by Decree (1979). The raunchy teenage comedy Porky's (1982) was the highest-grossing Canadian movie in history. Mr. Clark's best movie was A Christmas Story (1983), which has become known as a classic. Mr. Clark and his son Ariel Hanrath-Clark, 22, were killed in a crash on the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, California when their car was hit head-on by an SUV that was driven by a drunken Mexican who was in the United States illegally.