January 16, 2018

225 years ago
1793

World events
In a vote to decide the fate of deposed King Louis XVI, who had been convicted of treason the previous day, 361 deputies of the National Convention voted in favour of Louis' immediate death, 72 voted in favour of the death penalty subject to delaying conditions and reservations, and 288 voted against the death penalty in favour of some other alternative.

125 years ago
1893

Politics and government
The secret ballot was used in a Northwest Territories territorial election for the first time.

110 years ago
1908

Communications
Manitoba Government Telephones began operating, after taking over private lines; it was the first such public utility in North America.

100 years ago
1918

Born on this date
Stirling Silliphant. U.S. screenwriter. Mr. Silliphant won an Academy Award for his screenplay for In the Heat of the Night (1967), but was better known for his work in television, especially the series Naked City (1958-1959, 1960-1963) (which he created) and Route 66 (1960-1964) (which he co-created). He died on April 26, 1996 at the age of 78.

90 years ago
1928

Diplomacy
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, speaking at the opening of the sixth Pan American Conference at Havana, declared that the sovereignty of small nations was respected in this hemisphere, and all were on terms of absolute equality. He pleaded for friendship and understanding.

Politics and government
It was reported that the Soviet government, under Josef Stalin, had banished its opponents: Leon Trotsky to Vierny on the China-Turkestan frontier; Leon Kamenev to Pensa; Gregory Zinoviev to Tambov; Christian Rakovsky to Astrakhan; Karl Radek to the Urals, etc.

Aviation
French aviators Dieudonne Costes and Joseph Lebrix, continuing their transatlantic flight, flew from Panama City to Caracas.

80 years ago
1938

Music
Benny Goodman and his Orchestra, with guest stars that included members of the Duke Ellington and Count Basie orchestras, performed at Carnegie Hall in New York in a landmark concert.

75 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): There are Such Things--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers

Theatre
My Sister Eileen closed at the Broadway Theatre on Broadway in New York after 864 performances.

War
Iraq declared war on Germany, Italy, and Japan. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation seized 18 German enemy aliens in New Jersey and 15 in New York City. U.S. bombers struck at Japanese positions at Kahili on Bougainville Island; Munda on New Georgia Island; and Ballale Island in the Shortland area.

Labour
A walkout of 8,000 anthracite coal miners closed seven more mines in the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania area.

70 years ago
1948

Diplomacy
Bulgaria and Romania signed a friendship treaty.

Politics and government
New York Governor Thomas Dewey formally entered the 1948 U.S. presidential campaign, announcing through an aide that he would run as the Republican Party candidate "if nominated."

Labour
German unions in Duisburg, Muelheim, and Dinslaken began a 24-hour strike to protest inadequate food rations in the British zone.

60 years ago
1958

Theatre
Two for the Seesaw, directed by Arthur Penn and starring Henry Fonda and Anne Bancroft, opened at the Booth Theatre on Broadway in New York.

War
U.K. and Malayan troops and police launched their largest operation in nine years in an effort to clear Communist guerrillas from Perak in northern Malaya.

Fidel Castro's Cuban guerrillas raided the farming community of Verguita, seizing food and money.

Diplomacy
Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba refused to confer with General Georges Buchalet, special envoy named by French Prime Minister Felix Gaillard to seek an end to Tunisian support for Algerian nationalist guerrillas.

Politics and government
Lester B. Pearson, former Secretary of State for External Affairs, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 (for his role in resolving the Suez crisis in 1956), was chosen as leader of Canada's federal Liberal party, succeeding Louis St. Laurent, at the party's convention at Ottawa Coliseum. Mr. Pearson defeated former Health and Welfare minister Paul Martin on the first ballot by a margin of 1,074 votes to 305. The Liberals were then in opposition, having resigned the government after losing a narrow plurality to the Progressive Conservatives in the election of June 10, 1957. The evening included a farewell speech from former cabinet minister C.D. Howe, whose political career had ended with his defeat in the 1957 election. Mr. Howe had been in cabinet from 1936-1957, presiding over departments such as transport, munitions and supply, reconstruction, and Trade and commerce. He helped to create Trans-Canada Airlines, ran the nation's war production program, and presided over a successful transition to the post-war economy.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Monja--Roland W. (3rd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Invaders, starring Roy Thinnes, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Pit

Died on this date
Bob Jones, Sr., 84. U.S. evangelist. Mr. Jones was one of the most prominent Christian evangelists of the 1910s and '20s. He came down solidly on the side of Fundamentalism in the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy in the 1920s, which led him to found the non-denominational Bob Jones College in Florida in 1926. The college moved to Cleveland, Tennessee in 1933, and to Greenville, South Carolina in 1947, when it became known as Bob Jones University. Mr. Jones was one of the first evangelists to realize the potential of radio for preaching, and helped to found the National Religious Broadcasters in 1944. He was also known for his conservative social views and his opposition to racial integration. Mr. Jones eventually passed the leadership of his university to his son, Bob Jones, Jr.

John D. Webber, Jr.; Ernest A. Munro. U.S. military officers. Colonel Webber U.S. military advisory group commander, and Commander Munro, U.S. naval section head, were shot to death as they returned to the U.S. embassy in Guatemala City, where they were attaches. Two others were wounded in the attack by Communist Rebel Armed Forces insurgents, which the Rebel Armed Forces insisted, in leaflets distributed throughout the city that day, was in retaliation for the January 12 murder of Rogelia Cruz Martinez, Miss Guatemala of 1950, who was suspected of leftist sympathies.

Space
The U.S.S.R. launched its first satellite of the year, Cosmos 199, which was probably intended to be a spy satellite.

World events
Andreas Papandreou, 48, son of former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, flew to exile in Paris. He had been freed by Greece's military junta in a general Christmas amnesty.

Defense
As part of a series of moves designed to "make devaluation work," U.K. Prime Minister Harold Wilson announced the complete withdrawal of British troops from the Far East and the Persian Gulf by 1971, and the cancellation of an order of 50 F-111 jets ordered from the United States.

Disasters
Blizzards in Jordan were reported to have killed 13 people, while a storm in Lebanon killed 12 and injured 25.

40 years ago
1978

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mull of Kintyre--Wings (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): UFO--Pink Lady (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Credo--Elsa Baeza (3rd week at #1)

Politics and government
Christian Democrat Giulio Andreotti resigned as Prime Minister of Italy, ending the country's 18-month-old minority government. Communists, Socialists, and Republicans had demanded a role for the Communists in the government--which the Christian Democrats rejected--and refused to promise continued tacit support for the Christian Democrats by abstaining in votes on government-sponsored legislation.

Golf
Miller Barber won the Phoenix Open with a score of 272; first prize money was $40,000.

Football
NFL
Rogers Lehew resigned as vice president and assistant general manager of the Detroit Lions to pursue private business opportunities. Mr. Lehew had spent many year's with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders: chief scout, minor football coordinator, and assistant coach from 1960-1964, then general manager through the 1973 season. His Stampeder teams won western titles in 1968 and 1970, and finally won the Grey Cup in 1971.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy: La Bamba--Los Lobos (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): When I Fall in Love--Rick Astley (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): China in Your Hand--T'Pau (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Étienne--Guesch Patti (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Heaven is a Place on Earth--Belinda Carlisle

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Heaven is a Place on Earth--Belinda Carlisle

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Got My Mind Set on You--George Harrison

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Got My Mind Set on You--George Harrison
2 The Way You Make Me Feel--Michael Jackson
3 Need You Tonight--INXS
4 So Emotional--Whitney Houston
5 Faith--George Michael
6 Is This Love--Whitesnake
7 Hazy Shade of Winter--Bangles
8 Candle in the Wind--Elton John
9 Could've Been--Tiffany
10 Tell it to My Heart--Taylor Dayne

Singles entering the chart were Father Figure by George Michael (#50); Just Like Paradise by David Lee Roth (#66); I Get Weak by Belinda Carlisle (#68); Be Still My Beating Heart by Sting (#76); and Wishing Well by Terence Trent D'Arby (#88).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Got My Mind Set on You--George Harrison
2 Faith--George Michael
3 Pop Goes the World--Men Without Hats
4 I Think We're Alone Now--Tiffany
5 Heaven is a Place on Earth--Belinda Carlisle
6 When a Man Loves a Woman--Luba
7 Cherry Bomb--John Cougar Mellencamp
8 Candle in the Wind--Elton John
9 (I've Had) The Time of My Life--Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
10 So Emotional--Whitney Houston

Singles entering the chart were Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart) by Sway (#83); I Want to Be Your Man by Roger (#87); She's Like the Wind by Patrick Swayze (#89); I Found Someone by Cher (#92); Honestly by Stryper (#93); and China in Your Hand by T'Pau (#96).

Died on this date
Andrija Artuković, 88. Austro-Hungarian born Croatian politician and war criminal. Dr. Artuković, a member of the nationalist and fascist Ustaše organization, served in the government of the Independent State of Croatia as Minister of the Interior (1941-1942, 1943); Minister of Justice (1942-1943); and Secretary of State (1943-1945). He was responsible for signing racial laws against Serbs and Jews, and played a major role in the Porajmos, the genocide of the Romani people. Dr. Artuković was also responsible for the death and mistreatment of thousands of people in concentraion camps. He was detained in Austria by the Allies at the end of World War II, but was released, and used a forged passport to eventually make his way to California, where he stayed illegally after his tourist visa expired. An attempt by the Yugoslavian government to extradite Dr. Artuković in 1959 was unsuccessful, but the request was renewed in the 1980s, and Dr. Artuković was arrested in New York in 1984 and extradited to Yugoslavia for trial. He was convicted in 1986 of several mass killing and sentenced to death, but the sentence was not carried out because of Dr. Artuković's age and health. He died of natural causes in a prison hospital.

Ballard Berkeley, 83. Mr. Berkeley, born Ballard Blascheck, was a character actor in numerous British films, radio and television programs, but was best known for playing Major Gowen in the television comedy series Fawlty Towers (1975, 1979).

25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Gli Spari Sopra--Vasco Rossi

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Would I Lie to You?--Charles & Eddie

#1 single in France (SNEP): Dur dur d'être bébé!--Jordy (14th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (8th week at #1)

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (7th week at #1)
2 Rump Shaker--Wreckx-N-Effect
3 If I Ever Fall in Love--Shai
4 In the Still of the Nite--Boyz II Men
5 I'd Die Without You--PM Dawn
6 Rhythm is a Dancer--Snap!
7 Good Enough--Bobby Brown
8 Saving Forever for You--Shanice
9 To Love Somebody--Michael Bolton
10 Real Love--Mary J. Blige

Singles entering the chart were I'm Every Woman by Whitney Houston (#61); Ordinary World by Duran Duran (#63); Understand this Groove by Sound Factory (#68); No Mistakes by Patty Smyth (#72); Informer by Snow (#74); and Dazzey Duks by Duice (#81).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (5th week at #1)
2 To Love Somebody--Michael Bolton
3 Love Can Move Mountains--Celine Dion
4 Faithful--Go West
5 Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses--U2
6 Song Instead of a Kiss--Alannah Myles
7 The Last Song--Elton John
8 Rain Down on Me--Blue Rodeo
9 Never a Time--Genesis
10 Steam--Peter Gabriel

Singles entering the chart were Our World Our Dreams by Alannah Myles (#71); Ordinary World by Duran Duran (#85); I Want (Cool Cool Love) by Corey Hart (#86); With Heaven on Our Side by Foreigner (#87); Fifty Mission Cap by the Tragically Hip (#93); and Closing Time by Leonard Cohen (#94).