January 3, 2018

225 years ago
1793

Born on this date
Lucretia Mott. U.S. social reformer. Mrs. Mott participated in the typical reform movements of the 19th century, including abolition, temperance, and women's suffrage. She died on November 11, 1880 at the age of 87.

170 years ago
1848

Politics and government
Joseph Jenkins Roberts was sworn in as the first President of Liberia.

150 years ago
1868

World events
The Meiji Restoration re-established the authority of Japan's Emperor as the Tokugawa shogunate was abolished.

130 years ago
1888

Space
The 36-inch James Lick refracting telescope at the Lick Observatory in California was used for the first time. It was then the world's largest telescope.

125 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Rudy Widoeft. U.S. musician. Mr. Widoeft was a jazz saxophonist who was popular in the 1910s and '20s, and made over 300 recordings. His ragtime-influenced style waned in popularity in the 1930s, and he almost completely stopped performing in the mid-1930s. Mr. Widoeft was a heavy drinker, and died from cirrhosis of the liver on February 18, 1940 at the age of 47.

Politics and government
Matthew McCauley was acclaimed as Mayor of Edmonton in the city's civic election, while six aldermen were elected to one-year terms.

80 years ago
1938

Americana
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the March of Dimes.

75 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Walter James, 79. Australian politician. Sir Walter was Premier of Western Australia from 1902-1904.

Literature
The New York Herald Tribune reported that The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas was the best-selling fiction book, and See Here, Private Hargrove by Marion Hargrove was the best-selling non-fiction book.

War
Canadian Army troops arrived in Algeria. Royal Canadian Air Force Bomber Group 6, the first non-British formation to become part of the RAF Bomber Command, took off on its first operation, laying mines off the Frisian Islands. Russian troops recaptured the key rail city of Mozdok, 60 miles northwest of the Grozny oil centre, and Maogobek, 15 miles southwest of Modzok. The British Air Ministry reported that the Royal Air Force shot down 738 German planes over the British Isles and the Continent in 1942, while losing 593 of its own aircraft. Allied troops reportedly "broke the back" of enemy troops in the area of Buna, New Guinea.

Politics and government
U.S. Representative Jerry Voorhis (Democrat--California) refused to sign the annual report of the House of Representatives Committee on Un-American Activities, and submitted a minority report claiming that no opportunity was given for discussion or amendment. The committee was headed by Rep. Martin Dies (Democrat--Texas).

70 years ago
1948

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): Ballerina--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Ballerina--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)
--Buddy Clark
--Bing Crosby with the Rhythmaires
2 Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)--Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters
--Louis Prima and his Orchestra
--Jack Smith and the Clark Sisters
--Ray McKinley and his Orchestra
--Woody Herman and his Orchestra
3 Near You--Francis Craig and his Orchestra
--Larry Green and his Orchestra
--The Andrews Sisters
--Alvino Rey and his Orchestra
--Elliot Lawrence and his Orchestra
4 You Do--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Bing Crosby and Carmen Cavallaro
--Margaret Whiting
--Dinah Shore
--Vic Damone
5 Too Fat Polka (I Don’t Want Her) (You Can Have Her) (She’s Too Fat for Me)--Arthur Godfrey
6 How Soon (Will I Be Seeing You)--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Jack Owens
--Bing Crosby and Carmen Cavallaro
--Dinah Shore
7 Serenade of the Bells--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Jo Stafford
--Kay Kyser and his Orchestra
8 I'll Dance at Your Wedding--Ray Noble and his Orchestra with Buddy Clark
--Peggy Lee
9 I Wish I Didn't Love You So--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
--Dick Haymes
--Betty Hutton
10 --And Mimi--Art Lund
--Dick Haymes

Singles entering the chart were Gonna Get a Girl by the Benny Goodman Sextet (#23); You're My Girl by Frank Sinatra (#26); Don't You Love Me Anymore by Buddy Clark (#28); and A Girl that I Remember by Tex Beneke with the Glenn Miller Orchestra (#30). A Girl that I Remember was the other side of Surprise Symphony, charting at #32.

Politics and government
France granted self-government to the Saar after signing a treaty with the Saarland government extending French economic and financial control in the area.

A Gallup poll of preferred U.S. presidential candidates for 1948 showed President Truman leading Senator Robert Taft (Republican--Ohio) 55%-33%, with 12% undecided.

Edwin Pauley resigned as California's Democratic national committeeman in a leadership dispute with James Roosevelt.

Economics and finance
U.S. President Truman assigned the Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior Secretaries and the Office of Defense Transportation to negotiate voluntary industry price agreements under provisions of the Republican-sponsored anti-inflation law.

Labour
The U.S.S.R. government forbade the use of low-paid home labour by plant managers attempting to turn out extra goods.

Golf
The Professional Golfers Association awared Jimmy Demaret the 1947 Vardon Trophy as the best U.S. tournament player.

60 years ago
1958

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Mary's Boy Child--Harry Belafonte (7th week at #1)

On television tonight
Harbor Command, starring Wendell Corey
Tonight's episode: Illegal Entry

Caribbeana
The West Indies Federation was formed.

Politics and government
The six-member U.S. Civil Rights Commission was sworn in.

Economics and finance
China Trade and Economic Newsletter reported in London that a People's Republic of China trade mission had signed contracts for nearly $2 million worth of British textile machinery.

The Panama Canal Company reported to the U.S. Army Secretary that it collected an additional $3 million in tolls from ships diverted from the Suez Canal during 1957.

Labour
The British government rejected Malta's threatened break with the United Kingdom over Royal Navy dockyard layoffs, disclosing that Maltese cutbacks would affect only 1,200 of 13,200 dock workers.

50 years ago
1968

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Hello Goodbye--The Beatles (5th week at #1)

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Snoopy's Christmas--The Royal Guardsmen
2 Hello Goodbye/I Am the Walrus--The Beatles
3 The Last Waltz--Engelbert Humperdinck
4 Cathy Come Home/The Way They Play--The Twilights
5 (The Lights Went Out In) Massachusetts--The Bee Gees
6 You've Not Changed--Sandie Shaw
7 Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)--Johnny Farnham
8 The Two of Us--Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch
9 Judy/There's Always Me--Elvis Presley
10 My Prayer/Don't Let Your Left Hand Know--The Vibrants

Singles entering the chart were Summer Rain by Johnny Rivers (#22); In the Misty Moonlight by Dean Martin (#23); Let it All Hang Out by the Hombres (#35); Everybody Knows by the Dave Clark Five (#36); and Pentecost Hotel by Nirvana (#39). The Nirvana mentioned here was not the same group that became popular in the 1990s.

War
U.S. and South Vietnamese forces killed 329 North Vietnamese soldiers in the Quezon area.

40 years ago
1978

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: More than Friends

War
U.S. officials announced that Vietnamese troops were occupying 400 square miles of Cambodian territory in the border region of the two nations.

Health
The Canadian federal government released a report by three scientists concerning the amount of arsenic in the water supply of Yellowknife. Almost three years earlier, reports of high levels of arsenic (coming from the Giant and Con gold mines) in Yellowknife's water had prompted then-minister of health and welfare, Marc Lalonde, to commission the report. The scientists concluded that there were few possibilities of Yellowknifers acquiring arsenic through the city's main water supply, but offered no assurances for the native population who obtained their water directly from natural sources. This blogger was one of the Yellowknife residents to be tested for arsenic in 1975 as part of the federal government's research. I'd drunk plenty of Yellowknife's great-tasting water for 6 1/2 years at the time of testing, and received a clean bill of health. I was a New Town resident, and the highest arsenic levels were reported in those living in Old Town, especially near Back Bay.

Basketball
The Boston Celtics, with an 11-23 record, fired head coach Tom Heinsohn. Mr. Heinsohn, whose career NBA coaching record was 427 wins and 263 losses, was in his ninth season as Celtics' coach, and had led his team to NBA championships in 1974 and 1976. His win total was second in league history to Red Auerbach, one of his predecessors as Celtics' head coach, and the general manager who hired--and fired--him. Mr. Heinsohn's replacement was one of his assistants, Tom Sanders.

30 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Faith--George Michael (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: China in Your Hand--T'Pau (3rd week at #1)

Football
NFL
NFC Wild Card Playoff
Minnesota 44 @ New Orleans 10

Anthony Carter returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown and caught a 10-yard pass from halfback Allen Rice for another as the Vikings routed the Saints before 68,546 fans at the Louisiana Superdome in the Saints' first playoff game in their 21-year history. New Orleans opened the scoring on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Hebert to Eric Martin.



AFC Wild Card Playoff
Seattle 20 @ Houston 23 (OT)

Tony Zendejas kicked a 42-yard field goal 8:05 into overtime to give the Oilers their win over the Seahawks before 50,519 fans at the Astrodome.



25 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Die da--Die Fantastischen Vier (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Die da--Die Fantastischen Vier (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): I Will Always Love You--Whitney Houston (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Johnny Most, 69. U.S. sportscaster. Mr. Most was the radio play-by-play broadcaster of Boston Celtics games from 1953-1990. He died of a heart attack.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty--Start II--in Moscow, agreeing to reduce their nations' nuclear warheads by 3,000-3,500.

Football
NFL
AFC Wild Card playoff
Houston 38 @ Buffalo 41 (OT)

Trailing 35-3 early in the 3rd quarter, Buffalo scored 5 straight converted touchdowns to tie the game before Steve Christie kicked a 32-yard field goal in overtime to finish the greatest comeback in NFL history as the Bills edged the Oilers before 75,141 fans at Rich Stadium. Buffalo quarterback Frank Reich completed 21 of 34 passes for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Houston quarterback Warren Moon completed 36 of 50 passes for 371 yards and 4 touchdowns.



NFC Wild Card playoff
Philadelphia 36 @ New Orleans 20

The Eagles trailed the Saints 20-10 after 3 quarters before 68,591 fans at the Louisiana Superdome, but rallied for 26 unanswered points in the 4th quarter.



20 years ago
1998

Died on this date
Wayne Ambler, 82. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Ambler was a second baseman and shortstop with the Philadelphia Athletics (1937-1939), batting .224 with no home runs and 73 runs batted in in 271 games. He played with the Jersey City Giants of the AA International League in 1940, batting .218 with 1 home run in 83 games, and then hit .245 with 2 homers and 43 RBIs in 139 games with the Indianapolis Indians of the AA American Association in 1941. Mr. Ambler served in the United States Navy during World War II, and didn't return to professional baseball.

George Shaw, 64. U.S. football player. Mr. Shaw was a quarterback with the University of Oregon Ducks in the early 1950s, and was a first team All-American in both football and baseball. The Baltimore Colts made him the first overall selection in the 1955 college draft, and he played with them from 1955-1958. Mr. Shaw suffered a season-ending fractured kneecap in the fifth game of the 1956 season and lost his starting job to rookie Johnny Unitas. He regained the starting quarterback position for a few games in 1958 when Mr. Unitas was injured, and helped them to the NFL championship. Mr. Shaw was traded to the New York Giants in 1959, backing up Chuck Conerly and seeing a fair amount of playing time in 1960 when Mr. Conerly was injured. Mr. Shaw went to the expansion Minnesota Vikings in 1961 and started their first game, but was replaced at halftime by rookie Fran Tarkenton, and started just 3 games the rest of the season. Mr. Shaw finished his career with the Denver Broncos of the American Football League in 1962, backing up Frank Tripucka. In 8 seasons, Mr. Shaw completed 405 of 802 passes (50.5%) for 5,829 yards, with 41 touchdowns and 63 interceptions in 71 games, while rushing 130 times for 431 yards (3.3 average per carry) and 6 touchdowns. He died after a long illness.

Football
NFL
AFC Divisional Playoff
New England 6 @ Pittsburgh 7

NFC Divisional Playoff
Minnesota 22 @ San Francisco 38