February 29 (2019)

75 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): You'll Never Know--Vera Lynn and the Joe Loss Orchestra (1st month at #1)

Died on this date
P.E. Svinhufvud, 82. Prime Minister of Finland, 1930-1931; President of Finland, 1931-1937. Mr. Svinhufvud was a leader of the movement for Finnish independence and was the country's first head of state, as Chairman of the Senate from 1917-1918 and Regent from May 18-December 12, 1918. He was a conservative known for his opposition to Communism.

Literature
Lillian Smith's novel Strange Fruit, a story of inter-racial prejudice in Georgia, was published in New York by Reynal & Hitchcock.

War
The U.S.S.R. offered peace terms to Finland if Finland would break with Germany, withdraw her troops to the 1940 borders, and intern Nazi troops and equipment. In their drive on Pskov, Soviet troops captured 250 more inhabited places and, with the capture of Pogorelka and Podlipye, moved to within six miles of the city. In a new offensive designed to wipe out the Allies' beachhead at Anzio, German units attacked between Aprilia and Cisterna. In Operation Brewer, U.S. troops commanded by General Douglas MacArthur landed on Los Negros Island in the Admiralty Islands, 300 miles north of Rapaul, and quickly secured Momote airfield. British and Indian troops, with some Canadians, finally drove the Japanese invaders from Burma.

Politics and government
A conference of the United States Senate and House of Representatives reached a compromise on the issue of votes by military personnel in the November 1944 national elections. Use of a federal ballot would be permitted for residents of states that had not provided for absentee voting.

Mrs. Dorothy Vredenburgh was named secretary of the U.S. Democratic National Committee, becoming the first woman to hold the post.

Society
The South Carolina House of Representatives adopted and sent to the state Senate a resolution reaffirming "belief and allegiance to established white supremacy" and warning "damned agitators of the North to leave the South alone."

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that one of every three American families now had an annual income of more than $3,000, as compared with only one in ten between 1935 and 1940.

February 28, 2019

900 years ago
1119

Born on this date
Xizong. Emperor of China, 1135-1150. Xizong, born Hela, was the third Emperor of the Jin dynasty in northern China. He succeeded his younger brother Taizong on the throne, and launched several military campaigns against the Southern Song dynasty in southern China, while reforming political institutions along the lines of the Han Chinese culture, which he admired. Emperor Xizong was 30 when he was assassinated by his chancellor, Digunai, and other court officials in a coup d'état on January 9, 1150.

410 years ago
1609

Died on this date
Paul Sartorius, 39. German musician and composer. Mr. Sartorius, born Paul Schneider, studied in Italy before obtaining the position of court organist for Archduke Maximilian III of Austria in 1594. Mr. Sartorius' compositions showed strong Italian influence. He died on February 28, 1609 at the age of 39.

230 years ago
1789

Theatre
New Brunswick's first dramatic performances were staged in Saint John, as The Busy Body and Who's The Dupe were presented in the Long Room of the Mallard House on King Street.

170 years ago
1849

Transportation
Regular steamship service from the east to the west coast of the United States began with the arrival of the SS California in San Francisco Bay, 4 months and 22 days after leaving New York Harbor.

130 years ago
1889

Technology
Gilbert W. Ganong, of Ganong Bros. Ltd. confectioners in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, patented a process for imprinting the bottom of individual chocolates with a wordmark. Each hand-dipped chocolate bore the initials “GB.”

110 years ago
1909

Born on this date
Stephen Spender. U.K. poet. Sir Stephen's poetry concentrated on themes of social injustice and class struggle. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1936, but eventually became disillusioned with Communism. Sir Stephen died on July 16, 1995 at the age of 86.

80 years ago
1939

Literature
The erroneous word "dord" was discovered in Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, prompting an investigation, and the eventual removal of the "ghost word" in 1947.

75 years ago
1944

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on MBS
Tonight's episode: The Missing Button

War
In two weeks of fighting in the jungles of western Burma around Arakan, the Allies had reportedly dispersed 8,000 Japanese troops.

Abominations
A Soviet commission investigating German atrocities during the occupation of Kiev reported that 195,000 people there had been "tortured to death, shot or poisoned in murder vans."

Labour
United Mine Workers President John L. Lewis said that the Congress of Industrial Organizations was dominated by Communists and that its leaders were "prisoners of the Communists and can't do a thing about it."

Journalism
University of Chicago President Robert Hutchins announced the organization of a commission to make a two-year study of "the nature, duties, and responsibilities of the press in America."

70 years ago
1949

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring John Stanley and George Spelvin (Wendell Holmes), on MBS
Tonight's episode: The East End Strangler

Literature
Books published in New York included To Hell and Back by Audie Murphy (Holt); an English translation of An Outline of Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud (Norton); and A Tree of Night and Other Stories by Truman Capote (Random House).

War
Israeli troops occupied the fortress of Faluja in the Negev desert, following the withdrawal of the Egyptian garrison.

Diplomacy
The Indonesian Republic refused to attend a Dutch-sponsored conference on Indonesia in The Hague, charging the Netherlands with bypassing United Nations Security Council recommendations.

Politics and government
The U.S. Senate opened debate on a proposal sponsored by the administration of President Harry Truman to limit the filibuster. Senate Democrats filibustered against the measure.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. reduced prices of clothing, food, and other consumer goods by 10%-30%.

The U.S. Agriculture Department reported February farm prices at their lowest levels since September 1946.

The New York County Medical Society, the largest member group of the American Medical Association, refused to support the AMA's fight against U.S. President Truman's compulsory medical insurance proposal.

60 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)--Domenico Modugno (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Tom Dooley--Nilsen Brothers (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters

U.S. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Stagger Lee--Lloyd Price (3rd week at #1)
2 Donna--Ritchie Valens
3 Charlie Brown--The Coasters
4 Petite Fleur (Little Flower)--Chris Barber's Jazz Band
5 The Children's Marching Song (Nick Nack Paddy Whack)--Cyril Stapleton and his Orchestra
--Mitch Miller and his Orchestra
6 16 Candles--The Crests
7 Peter Gunn--Ray Anthony and his Orchestra
8 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes--The Platters
9 The Hawaiian Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au)--Andy Williams
10 I Cried a Tear--LaVern Baker

Singles entering the chart were Never Be Anyone Else But You by Ricky Nelson (#79); Pink Shoe Laces by Dodie Stevens (#81); No Other Arms, No Other Lips, with versions by the Chordettes; and the Four Aces (#86); A House of Love by Scott Garrett (#88); The Morning Side of the Mountain by Tommy Edwards (#89); I Can't Sit Down by Marie and Rex (#93); The Millionaire by Perez Prado and his Orchestra (#94); Are You Lonesome Tonight by Jaye P. Morgan (#95); Where were You (On Our Wedding Day)? by Lloyd Price (#96); and Up Jumped a Rabbit by Frankie Lymon (#97). The Morning Side of the Mountain, a new recording of a song that had bee a hit for Mr. Edwards in 1951, was the other side of Please Mr. Sun, charting at #40.

Died on this date
Maxwell Anderson, 70. U.S. journalist and playwright. Mr. Anderson worked with various newspapers before embarking on a successful career as a playwright, with his first success being What Price Glory? (1924). He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Both Your Houses (1933). Mr. Anderson's other plays included Winterset (1935); High Tor (1937); Key Largo (1939); Anne of the Thousand Days (1948); and The Bad Seed (1954). He died two days after suffering a stroke.

Space
The U.S. Air Force launched the satellite Discoverer 1 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California as part of the Corona reconnaissance satellite program. It was the first satellite launched toward the South Pole in an attempt to achieve polar orbit, but was unsuccessful, and probably landed somewhere near the South Pole.

Politics and government
Following visits to the Middle East, Far East, and U.S.S.R., East German Premier Otto Grotewohl began an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons.

The Voltaic Republic adopted a draft constitution that would bar Volta membership in the new Mali Federation of French West Africa.

Law
Cuban President Manuel Urrutio approved a law authorizing the confiscation of property of collaborators with the regime of ousted President Fulgencio Batista, including all cabinet ministers since 1952.

Economics and finance
The United Kingdom and United Arab Republic formally signed an agreement in Cairo ending financial and trade disagreements arising from the 1956 Anglo-French invasion of the Suez Canal area.

Figure Skating
Canadians Barbara Wagner and Bob Paul won the Ice Pairs competition at the world championships in Colorado Springs. It was their third championship in a row, and they repeated the feat in 1960.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da--The Marmalade

Vancouver's Top 10 (CKLG)
1 To Susan on the West Coast Waiting/Atlantis--Donovan (2nd week at #1/1st week at #1)
2 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 But You Know I Love You--The First Edition
4 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
5 Games People Play--Joe South
6 Hang 'em High--Booker T. & the M.G.'s
7 Mendocino--Sir Douglas Quintet
8 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
9 I'm Livin' in Shame--Diana Ross and the Supremes
10 Time of the Season--The Zombies

Singles entering the chart were Atlantis; Nothing But a Heartache by the Flirtations (#27); Someday Soon by Judy Collins (#28); and You Gave Me a Mountain by Frankie Laine (#30).

Edmonton's top 10 (CJCA)
1 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells (4th week at #1)
2 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
3 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
4 I Started a Joke--The Bee Gees
5 Touch Me--The Doors
6 You Showed Me--The Turtles
7 Games People Play--Joe South
8 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
9 But You Know I Love You--The First Edition
10 Hooked on a Feeling--B.J. Thomas

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon met Italian leaders in Rome, then flew to Paris, where he was welcomed by French President Charles de Gaulle, who called Mr. Nixon's visit an "honour" and a "joy." The two leaders had long talks at the Elysee Palace.

Crime
Sirhan Sirhan told the court that he wanted to change his plea to guilty of the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy the previous June, and wanted to be executed. The judge denied the request, and warned Mr. Sirhan that if he was not quiet he would be "put in chains."

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Heart of Glass--Blondie (3rd week at #1)

War
Saudi Arabia put her armed forces on full alert in response to continued fighting between Yemen and South Yemen. Saudi Arabia called for an Arab League meeting to resolve the dispute.

Defense
The United States abandoned an electronic listening post on the U.S.S.R.-Iran border after it was shut down by Iranian employees in a dispute over severance pay.

Politics and government
Jane Byrne defeated incumbent Michael Bilandic in Chicago's Democratic Party primary for mayor, a major upset against the old-time Richard Daley political machine.

Hockey
NHL
Chicago 4 Vancouver 4

30 years ago
1989

On television tonight
The Wonder Years, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Loosiers

World events
Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez declared martial law, amid nationwide riots over government-imposed increases in transportation fares and gasoline prices.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (3rd week at #1)

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 The Power of Love--Celine Dion (2nd week at #1)
2 Streets of Philadelphia--Bruce Springsteen
3 All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting
4 Distant Sun--Crowded House
5 Mr. Jones--Counting Crows
6 The Sign--Ace of Base
7 Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through--Meat Loaf
8 Now and Forever--Richard Marx
9 Linger--The Cranberries
10 Will You Be There (In the Morning)--Heart

Singles entering the chart were Anniversary Song by Cowboy Junkies (#70); For Whom the Bell Tolls by the Bee Gees (#73); Oh No, Not My Baby by Linda Ronstadt (#81); Lost Without You by Roch Voisine (#88); and Deuces are Wild by Aerosmith (#93).

War
For the first time in its 45-year history, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was involved in actual combat. Six Bosnian Serb aircraft violated the United Nations-imposed no-fly zone in central Bosnia, and some or all dropped bombs on a town containing a munitions factory, but succeeded only in hitting a hospital and storage depot. After the Serb planes ignored radio warnings, four of them were shot down by U.S. fighter planes operating under NATO auspices.

Politics and government
Moldova's main independence party claimed a clear victory in the country's first post-Soviet parliamentary elections.

World events
Three days after Dr. Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli settler in the West Bank, had opened fire on Muslim worshippers in a mosque in Hebron and killed several dozen people, the Palestine Liberation Organization said that Israel must disarm all her settlers in the area and keep them out of the areas of Palestinian concentration.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Clarence Henry, 72. U.S. boxer. Mr. Henry was a heavyweight who compiled a record of 34-6-1 in a professional career from 1948-1954, defeating top contenders such as Bob Baker, and losing to world light heavyweight champions Archie Moore and Harold Johnson. Mr. Henry retired after being arrested in New York on June 4, 1954 for attempting to bribe middleweight Bobby Jones to throw his June 11 bout against Joey Giardello. Mr. Henry was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998. He died 27 days before his 73rd birthday.

War
Ethiopia claimed that its army had defeated Eritrean forces in the Badme region.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Paul Harvey, 90. U.S. broadcaster. Paul Harvey Aurandt was one of the most famous announcers in radio history. Based in Chicago at the ABC station WENR, his Paul Harvey News was broadcast internationally from 1951 until his death. He was perhaps even more famous for The Rest of the Story (go here for free downloads), which began as an occasional segment of his newscasts, and became a separate program in 1976, running until his death.

Oil
The Horizon oil sands project of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (CNRL) in Fort McMurray, Alberta produced its first synthetic crude oil after four years of construction work.

February 27, 2019

425 years ago
1594

Franciana
King Henry IV was crowned at Chartres Cathedral.

210 years ago
1809

War
The French frigates Pénélope and Pauline, led by Captains Bernard Dubourdieu and François-Gilles Montfort, respectively, captured the British frigate HMS Proserpine, led by Captain Charles Otter, near Toulon.

175 years ago
1844

Died on this date
Nicholas Biddle, 58. U.S. banker and politician. Mr. Biddle, a Federalist, sat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1810 and in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1813-1815. He was President of the Second Bank of the United States from 1823-1836, but was opposed by U.S. President Andrew Jackson, who vetoed a bill to recharter the bank in 1832. Mr. Biddle mounted an attempt to defeat Mr. Jackson's campaign for re-election in 1832, but was unsuccessful; Mr. Jackson withdrew federal government money from the bank and distributed it among several state banks, allowing the Second Bank of the United States' charter to expire in 1836, although it continued as a state-chartered bank in Pennsylvania before failing in 1841. Mr. Biddle was hit by several civil suits, which he was still dealing with at the time of his death.

Caribbeana
The Dominican Republic gained its independence from Haiti.

160 years ago
1859

Died on this date
Philip Barton Key II, 40. U.S. lawyer. Mr. Key, the son of The Star Spangled Banner composer Francis Scott Key, was U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. He was having an affair with Teresa Sickles, wife of U.S. Representative Daniel Sickles (Democrat--New York), and Rep. Sickles fatally shot him. Charged with murder, Rep. Sickles invoked the defense of temporary insanity, and was acquitted, in the first successful use of such a defense in the United States.

140 years ago
1879

Born on this date
Charles Stockard. U.S. anatomist and zoologist. Dr. Stockard conducted numerous experiments studying the growth and differentiation of germ line cells within embryos. His research on embryonic development in guinea pigs given alcohol demonstrated that alcohol consumption can lead to birth defects. Dr. Stockard's books included Hormones and Structural Development (1927) and The Physical Basis of Personality (1931). He died on April 7, 1939 at the age of 60.

Business
Henry Birks opened a small jewellery shop, Henry Birks and Company, at 222 Rue Saint-Jacques, in the heart of Montreal’s business section. His business formula was: cash sales only and the same price for everyone. In 1893, he went into partnership with his three sons as Henry Birks and Sons.

120 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Charles H. Best. U.S.-born Canadian physiologist and biochemist. Dr. Best, born in Maine to parents from Nova Scotia, moved to Toronto in 1915. As a medical student at the University of Toronto, he assisted Dr. Frederick Banting in the discovery of Insulin in 1921. Dr. Best died on March 31, 1978 at the age of 79.

Transportation
The Canadian Pacific Railway launched the 70-ton steamboat Ymir (70 tons) at Nelson, British Columbia; it was withdrawn from service in 1929.

Labour
An amendment to British Columbia's Inspection of Metaliferous Mines Act 1897 received royal assent, limiting underground miners' hours to 8 hours per day.

110 years ago
1909

Canadiana
Ontario added a crest, supporters, and motto to the provincial coat-of-arms.

100 years ago
1919

Hockey
Stanley Cup
NHL
Finals
Montreal 5 @ Ottawa 3 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)

Joe Malone scored 2 straight goals in the 2nd period and Odie Cleghorn scored a true hat trick in the 3rd period to enable the Canadiens to defeat the Senators at the Arena. Harry Cameron, Buck Boucher, and Cy Denneny scored the Ottawa goals.

90 years ago
1929

Boxing
Jack Sharkey (32-8-1) won a 10-round decision over Young Stribling (214-11-17-1) at Flamingo Park in Miami Beach, Florida in an elimination bout for the vacant world heavyweight title. The card opened with a battle royale of 12 Negro fighters.



80 years ago
1939

Labour
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sit-down strikes violated property owners' rights, and were therefore illegal.

75 years ago
1944

War
Soviet troops reached two points within 15 miles of Pskov, with the capture of Zamelnichye and Zakhodtsy. A convoy carrying one of the largest contingents of American troops ever to cross the Atlantic Ocean arrived in England.

Economics and finance
U.S. Foreign Economic Administrator Leo Crowley reported that lend-lease shipments to the U.S.S.R. from October 1941-December 1943 totalled 8.4 million tons valued at $4, 243,804,000.

An interim Allied food commission, meeting in Hot Springs, Virginia, completed plans for a permanent organization to guide production and distribution of food on the postwar period.

Sport
U.S. runner Gil Dodds was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award as "the amateur athlete who did the most to advance the cause of sportsmanship in 1943."

70 years ago
1949

On the radio
Pat Novak For Hire, starring Jack Webb, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Marcia Halpern

Died on this date
Luis Manuel Rojas Arreola. Mexican politician. Mr. Rojas was president of the congress in 1916-1917 that framed Mexico's constitution.

War
A two-day battle between Siamese Army and Navy forces ended in Bangkok with 50 soldiers dead. Government spokesmen blamed the incident on agitation by dissident politicians.

The Chinese Nationalist peace mission returned from Peking after conferring with Communist leader Mao Tse-tung.

Defense
The U.S. Navy began its largest post-World War II maneuvers to date with a simulated nuclear attack on surface ships in the Caribbean Sea.

Health
A joint meeting of the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute in Memphis ended after hearing a report linking increased cigarette smoking to the rapid rise in the incidence of lung cancer during the past 25 years.

60 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): As I Love You--Shirley Bassey with Wally Stott and his Orchestra (2nd week at #1)

Space
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration disclosed that it had compiled a list of 110 pilots from which it expected to select the pilot of the first Project Mercury flight.

Politics and government
General Ne Win took office as Prime Minister of a revised Burmese cabinet.

Scandal
In Tacoma, Washington, U.S. District Court Judge George Boldt sentenced former Teamsters union President Dave Beck to five years in prison, fined him $60,000, and ordered him to pay $10,000 in court costs, following his conviction on six counts of tax evasion.

A U.S. federal grand jury in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania acquitted U.S. Representative William Green, Jr. (Democrat--Pennsylvania) of charges that he had conspired to defraud the U.S. government in connection with the construction of a $33-million Army Signal Corps depot at Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

50 years ago
1969

On television tonight
Dragnet 1969, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Juvenile Division: DR-19



Died on this date
Marius Barbeau, 85. Canadian anthropologist. Professor Barbeau, a native of Sainte-Marie, Quebec, was one of the founders of Canadian anthropology, specializing in Québecois folk culture and traditions and culture of the Tsimshianic-speaking peoples--Tsimshian, Gitxsan, and Nisga'a--in northern British Columbia. His belief that the latter groups had migrated from Siberia across the Bering Strait has been heavily disputed. Prof. Barbeau died in Ottawa, six days before his 86th birthday.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon spent 20 hours in Rome, where he was greeted by President Giuseppe Saragat. The occasion was also marked by thousands of student protesters and Communists, who started a riot that lasted into the next day. At least 31 people, including 21 policemen, were injured. However, the only crowds that Mr. Nixon saw were friendly ones lining his route.

Economics and Finance
The British bank rate was raised to 8% from 7% in a move to reinforce the credit squeeze on commercial banks--a move considered essential to bring imports into better balance with exports.

Labour
A nationwide strike of 15,000 American Airlines ground employees caused delays and roundabout routings.

40 years ago
1979

On television tonight
The Paper Chase, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Once More with Feeling



Diplomacy
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin agreed to meet with United States President Jimmy Carter to discuss the proposed Middle East peace settlement, but the Israeli cabinet vetoed Mr. Begin's return to Camp David to conclude treaty negotiations with Egypt.

Health
A study by the National Academy of Sciences recommended restrictions but no ban on the use of the artificial sweetener Saccharin, which had caused cancer in laboratory rats.

Economics and Finance
Cleveland voters approved a 50% increase in city taxes to bail out the financially strapped city government and the retention of the city-owned municipal electrical utility. The results were seen as a victory for Mayor Dennis Kucinich, who had campaigned for both measures.

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)--The Proclaimers (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Real Gone Kid--Deacon Blue (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush met with South Korean opposition leaders and addressed the National Assembly in Seoul.

Protest
Riots spread across Venezuela in reaction against government-imposed increases in transportation fares and gasoline prices.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: The Heater--The Mutton Birds

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (4th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Without You--Mariah Carey (3rd week at #1)

Olympics
The 17th Winter Olympic Games ended in Lillehammer, Norway. Peter Forsberg scored on the seventh shot of a shoot-out to give Sweden a 3-2 win over Canada in the men's hockey final.

20 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Horace Tapscott, 64. U.S. musician. Mr. Tapscott was a jazz trombonist who played with various bands, including that of Lionel Hampton (1959-1961), before focusing on piano and forming the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, which he led from 1961 through the 1990s.

War
Eritrea accepted the peace plan, originally put forth by the Organization for African Unity, intended to end the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Politics and government
Olusegun Obasanjo, representing the People's Democratic Party, won the Nigerian presidential election, receiving 62.78% of the vote to 37.22% for Alliance for Democracy-All People's Party candidate Olue Falae, nearly completing the country's transition to civilian rule. Mr. Obasanjo, a military leader during the civil war with Biafra from 1967-1970, had become President in 1976 after his predecessor was assassinated while trying to implement civilian rule. Mr. Obasanjo completed the transition, handing over the presidency to an elected civilian in 1979. The military later seized power again, and Mr. Obasanjo was imprisoned from 1995 to 1998, when General Sani Abacha, Nigeria's ruler, died. Mr. Falae claimed that vote fraud had occurred in the election.

Hockey
NHL
Florida 1 @ Toronto 4

February 26, 2019

225 years ago
1794

Disasters
The first Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, the Danish royal residence, burned down.

190 years ago
1829

Born on this date
Levi Strauss. German-born U.S. clothing magnate. Mr. Strauss, born Löb Strauß in Bavaria, moved with his family to New York City at the age of 18. He founded Levi Strauss & Co. in San Francisco in 1847. The company, originally a dry goods business, became the first company to manufacture blue jeans. Mr. Strauss died on September 26, 1902 at the age of 73, leaving an estate of about $125 million (more than $3 billion today).

140 years ago
1879

Born on this date
Frank Bridge. U.K. composer. Mr. Bridge was a violist in string quartets who composed chamber and choral works, as well as works for piano and organ. He died on January 10, 1941 at the age of 61.

130 years ago
1889

Died on this date
Karl Davydov, 50. Russian musician and composer. Mr. Davydov was nicknamed the "czar of cellists" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and composed several dozen works, mainly for cello. He died 17 days before his 51st birthday.

120 years ago
1899

Born on this date
Max Petitpierre. President of the Swiss Confederation, 1950, 1955, 1960. Mr. Petitpierre, a member of the Free Democratic Party, was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1944-1961, heading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during that period. He died on March 25, 1994, 27 days after his 95th birthday.

110 years ago
1909

Movies
Kinemacolor, the first successful colour motion picture process, was first shown to the general public, at the Palace Theatre in London.

100 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Mason Adams. U.S. actor. Mr. Adams was a prolific actor in radio programs and as the voice-over on television commercials, but was perhaps best known for portraying managing editor Charlie Hume in the television series Lou Grant (1977-1982). He died on April 26, 2005 at the age of 86.

Environment
The United States Congress passed An Act to Establish the Grand Canyon National Park in the State of Arizona, and An Act to Establish the Lafayette National Park at Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine.

90 years ago
1929

Environment
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signed an executive order establishing the 96,000-acre Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

75 years ago
1944

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)--Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra with Eugenie Baird (Best Seller--5th week at #1); Shoo-Shoo Baby--The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen and his Orchestra (Jukebox--7th week at #1)

War
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the War Manpower Commission and Selective Service Commission to review the draft deferments of five million registrants.

Diplomacy
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's son Randolph was reported to be in Yugoslavia meeting with Yugoslavian leader Marshal Tito in an attempt to further British efforts to effect closer cooperation between Marshal Tito and Yugoslavia's King Peter II in exile.

London diplomatic quarters reported that Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco had assured Allied governments that Spain would follow a course of "honourable neutrality."

Labour
Congress of Industrial Oganizations-United Auto Workers President R.J. Thomas announced that local unions responsible for unatuthorized work stoppages would be disciplined.

Track and field
Gid Dodds won the mile in a time of 4:07.4 in the Amateur Athletic Union meet at Madison Square Garden in New York. The New York Athletic Club won the team title, with the University of Michigan finishing second and Dartmouth College third.

70 years ago
1949

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Buttons and Bows--Dinah Shore and the Happy Valley Boys; Gene Autry (8th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard) (Best Seller): A Little Bird Told Me--Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters (6th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 A Little Bird Told Me--Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters (4th week at #1)
--Paula Watson
2 Far Away Places--Bing Crosby
--Perry Como
--Margaret Whiting and the Crew Chiefs
3 Powder Your Face with Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)--Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
4 Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
5 I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm--Les Brown and his Orchestra
--The Mills Brothers
6 Red Roses for a Blue Lady--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
7 So Tired--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
8 Galway Bay--Bing Crosby
9 The Pussy Cat Song (Nyow! Nyot Nyow!)--Patty Andrews and Bob Crosby
--Perry Como with the Fontane Sisters
10 Down by the Station--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians

Singles entering the chart were You, You are the One, with versions by the Ames Brothers; and Russ Morgan and his Orchestra (#20); Sunflower by Russ Morgan and his Orchestra (#36); Bewildered by Billy Eckstine (#37); You Was by Doris Day and Buddy Clark (#39); and Careless Hands, with versions by Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra; and Mel Torme (#40).

On the radio
Tales of Fatima, starring Basil Rathbone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Invisible Caballero

Asiatica
Pakistan incorporated Baluchistan, a territory bordering on Iran and Afghanistan, as the country's fifth province.

Diplomacy
The Dutch government promised to release all interned Indonesian Republic leaders, and called a conference of Indonesian political groups in The Hague.

Politics and government
Dissident members of the Colorado Party in Paraguay removed provisional President Raimundo Rolon in favour of former Education Minister Felipe Molas Lopez.

Track and field
NCAA
James Sholtz of the United States Military Academy set a world record in the shot put of 60 feet 7 3/4 inches at the intercollegiate 4-A indoor championships in New York. Michigan State University won the overall title.

60 years ago
1959

Died on this date
Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife, 67. U.K. Royal Family member. Princess Alexandra, a granddaughter of King Edward VII, was the daughter of Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife, who had married Princess Louise of Wales, daughter of the future King Edward VII. Princess Alexandra married Prince Arthur of Connaught in 1913.

World events
Southern Rhodesian Prime Minister Sir Edgar Whitehead proclaimed a state of emergency and outlawed all African nationalist groups.

Defense
The British House of Commons rejected a Labour Party resolution criticizing the Conservative government's defense policy for excessive reliance on nuclear weapons.

Agriculture
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson designated three methods of rendering livestock unconscious before slaughter under a new humane-slaughtering law.

Economics and finance
The U.S.S.R. and the People's Republic of China signed a short-term trade agreement in Moscow providing for the exchange of $1.75 billion worth of Soviet industrial equipment for Chinese goods.

Football
NFL
In one of the biggest trades in National Football League history, Los Angeles Rams' general manager Pete Rozelle dealt eight players and a draft choice to the Chicago Cardinals for star running back Ollie Matson, who had been with the Cardinals since 1952. In 1958, Mr. Matson had rushed for 505 yards on 129 carries with 5 touchdowns; caught 33 passes for 465 yards and 3 touchdowns; completed 1 of 2 passes for 4 yards; and returned 14 kickoffs for 497 yards and 2 touchdowns.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?--Peter Sarstedt

Australia's top 10 (Go-Set)
1 Lily the Pink--The Scaffold (3rd week at #1)
2 Eloise--Barry Ryan
3 I Started a Joke/Kilburn Towers--The Bee Gees
4 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
5 Edge of Reality/If I Can Dream--Elvis Presley
6 Star Crossed Lovers--Neil Sedaka
7 Son-of-a Preacher Man--Dusty Springfield
8 Going Up the Country--Canned Heat
9 Lily the Pink/Mrs. Cardinal's Board House--The Irish Rovers
10 Scarborough Fair--Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66

Singles entering the chart were Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells (#27); Something's Happening/It's Nice to Be Out by Herman's Hermits (#33); Touch Me by the Doors (#35); Stand by Your Man by Tammy Wynette (#36); This Magic Moment by Jay and the Americans (#39); and Adios Amor by Jose Feliciano (#40).

Died on this date
Karl Jaspers, 86. German-born Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher. Dr. Jaspers practiced as a psychiatrist before turning to philosophy in 1921, remaining in Germany--often under threat from arrest by the Nazis--until moving to Switzerland in 1948. He wrote the book General Psychopathology (1913), advocating the diagnosis of symptoms of mental illness by their form rather than by their content. As a philosopher, Dr. Jaspers was associated with existentialism, although he rejected the label. He drew on the work of Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, and wrote on themes of individual freedom, arguing that as individuals question reality, they reach a point that the scientific method cannot transcend, and therefore make a leap of faith toward transcendence, experiencing authentic "Existenz." Dr. Jaspers died three days after his 86th birthday.

Levi Eshkol, 73. Prime Minister of Israel, 1963-1969. A native of Russia, Mr. Eshkol replaced David Ben-Gurion as Israel's Prime Minister in June 1963. He was Prime Minister during Israel's tremendous victory in the Six Day War in June 1967, although he was regarded at the time as being hesitant in his leadership. Mr. Eshkol's health gradually failed, and he became the first Israeli Prime Minister to die in office.

Space
The weather satellite ESSA-9, operated by the Environmental Science Services Administration, was launched by the United States from Cape Kennedy, Florida as the last in the TIROS Operational Satellite Series.

War
Heavy fighting broke out at two major military installations near Saigon as North Vietnamese and Viet Cong artillery attacks continued.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon arrived in Bonn, where he was welcomed by West German Chancellor Kurt Kiesinger. Mr. Nixon allayed West German fears about U.S. troop redeployment, indicating that he had no plans to reduce the estimated 225,000 stationed there; he also addressed the Bundestag. During a half day spent in West Berlin, where radical students unfurled banners inscribed "Black Power," and threw eggs, paint, and rocks at his limousine, Mr. Nixon restated the American pledge to defend the city.

World events
The Syrian Army. under the command of Defense Minister Lieutenant General Hafez al-Assad, seized control of the government to force greater cooperation with Iraq and the U.A.R. against Israel.

Politics and government
A few hours after the death of Levi Eshkol, the Israeli cabinet named Yigal Allon acting Prime Minister.

The White House announced that Representative Rogers Morton of Maryland would be the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, succeeding Ray Bliss. Mr. Morton's brother, Sen. Thurston B. Morton of Kentucky, had also been the national party chairman.

Academia
The University of Chicago's faculty council called for the use of police to keep campus order, and the expulsion of disruptive students.

Disasters
20 were reported killed after an earthquake and tidal waves razed Madjene on Celebes Island, Indonesia.

Boxing
Leotis Martin (28-5) won a 10-round split decision over Alvin "Blue" Lewis (19-3) in a heavyweight bout at Olympia Stadium in Detroit. Exactly three months earlier, Mr. Martin had scored a 9-round technical knockout over Mr. Lewis.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Le Freak-Chic

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Hero (Hero ni Naru Toki, Sore wa Ima)--Kai Band

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I was Made for Dancin'--Leif Garrett

Died on this date
Urban Henry, 43. U.S. football player. Mr. Henry played tackle at Georgia Institute of Technology (1955-1957), and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League in 1958. He went to the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League instead, and played with the Lions from 1958-1960, making the Western Interprovincial Football Union All-Star team at defensive tackle in each of his last two seasons. Mr. Henry played with the Rams (1961); Green Bay Packers (1963); and Pittsburgh Steelers (1964). Longtime B.C. Lions' executive Bobby Ackles, in his autobiography The Water Boy (2007), wrote about his friendship with Mr. Henry, and reported that Mr. Henry was a skilled painter, mainly of landscapes. Mr. Henry died of a heart attack.

Space
There was a total eclipse of the sun, visible from the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean; Central America; North America (except for western Alaska); the arctic regions; Greenland; Iceland; the north Atlantic Ocean; and western Europe. It was too cloudy in Calgary that morning to notice much of an effect.

Politics and government
In the United States, the Republican Party caucus at the National Governors Association meeting called for a balanced federal budget, and asked Congress to study proposals for a constitutional amendment to limit spending.

Transportation
The Superliner railcar entered revenue service with Amtrak.

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Kiss--The Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones

#1 single in Switzerland: First Time--Robin Beck (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Roy Eldridge, 78. U.S. musician. Mr. Eldridge was a jazz trumpeter and occasional singer with a number of bands, including those led by Fletcher Henderson, Gene Krupa, and Artie Shaw. Dizzy Gillespie was one of the musicians who cited Mr. Eldridge as a musical influence.

Diplomacy
Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini told Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze that the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan cleared the way for closer Soviet-Iranian ties.

U.S. President George Bush met with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in Beijing.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Give It Up--Cut 'N' Move (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: The Rhythm of the Night--Corona (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Right in the Night--Jam & Spoon (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): La solitudine--Laura Pausini (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Happy Nation--Ace of Base (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Ik wil niet dat je liegt/Waarheen waarvoor--Paul de Leeuw (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Without You--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 The Power of Love--Celine Dion (3rd week at #1)
2 The Sign--Ace of Base
3 Whatta Man--Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
4 All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting
5 Breathe Again--Toni Braxton
6 Without You/Never Forget You--Mariah Carey
7 Hero--Mariah Carey
8 So Much in Love--All-4-One
9 Understanding--Xscape
10 Now and Forever--Richard Marx

Singles entering the chart were I'm Outstanding by Shaquille O'Neal (#66); Baby I Love Your Way by Big Mountain (#78); Sweet Lullaby by Deep Forest (#85); Player's Ball by OutKast (#86); You Don't Love Me (No, No, No) by Dawn Penn (#87); Tryin' to Get Over You by Vince Gill (#88); Ain't Seen Love Like That by Mr. Big (#91); Come to My Window by Melissa Etheridge (#92); and My Love by Little Texas (#95). Baby I Love Your Way was from the movie Reality Bites (1994).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Power of Love--Celine Dion
2 The Sign--Ace of Base
3 All for Love--Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting
4 Without You--Mariah Carey
5 Shoop--Salt-N-Pepa
6 Breathe Again--Toni Braxton
7 Understanding--Xscape
8 Hero--Mariah Carey
9 Because the Night--10,000 Maniacs
10 Whatta Man--Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue

Singles entering the chart were Without You; Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through by Meat Loaf (#17); Gin and Juice by Snoop Doggy Dogg (#23); Bump n' Grind by R. Kelly (#26); Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies (#32); It's All Good by Hammer (#36); Everyday by Phil Collins (#41); I Swear by John Michael Montgomery (#43); Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen (#51); Loser by Beck (#62); and God by Tori Amos (#77).

Crime
11 members of the Branch Davidian cult who had survived attacks on their Waco, Texas compound by U.S. federal agents in 1993 were acquitted of murder and conspiracy charges arising from the initial attack in February 1993 that had resulted in the deaths of four U.S. federal agents. Five of the 11 defendants found guilty of aiding and abetting the voluntary manslaughter of federal officials, and two were found guilty of weapons charges. The final attack on the compound had taken place on April 19, 1993, resulting in the deaths of about 80 members of the cult, including women and children, as well as cult leader David Koresh.

Olympics
Vreni Schneider of Switzerland won the women's slalom at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway; with her two gold medals in 1988, she became the first woman to win three gold medals in alpine skiing.

20 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Michael Avallone, 74. U.S. author. Mr. Avallone, using his own name and various pseudonyms, wrote at least 223 novels (he claimed over 1,000). He was best known for mystery and secret agent novels, as well as novelizations of movies and television programs.

War
The United Nations Security Council, reversing a January decision, voted to pull its peacekeeping force out of Angola.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator John Kerry (Democrat--Massachusetts) withdrew from the contest for his party's U.S. presidential nomination for 2000.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Johnny Kerr, 76. U.S. basketball player, coach, and broadcaster. "Red" Kerr was a center and forward with the University of Illinois Fighting Illini from 1951-54, and was selected in the first round (6th overall) of the 1954 National Basketball Association draft by the Syracuse Nationals. He helped the Nationals win the NBA championship in his rookie season, and remained with the team through 1965, two years after they moved to Philadelphia to become the 76ers. Mr. Kerr ended his playing career with the Baltimore Bullets in 1965-66, finishing with career totals of 12,480 points and 10,092 rebounds, while setting an NBA record, since broken, of 844 consecutive games played. He was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1966 expansion draft, but retired to become the team's coach. Mr. Kerr coached the Bulls to losing records in their first two seasons, but they won enough games to make the playoffs in both years, and he was named the NBA's Coach of the Year for 1966-67. Mr. Kerr was then hired to coach the Phoenix Suns when they entered the NBA in 1968, but achieved limited success, resigning midway through the 1969-70 season. He served as a colour commentator on broadcasts of Suns' games for the remainder of the 1969-70 season, but didn't return to the broadcasting booth until 1975, serving as a colour commentator on broadcasts of Bulls' games through the 2007-08 season. Mr. Kerr was honoured by the Bulls at a halftime ceremony, 16 days before his death from prostate cancer.

Wendy Richard, 65. U.K. actress. Miss Richard, born Wendy Emerton, was mainly known for playing Miss Brahms in the televsion comedy series Are You Being Served? (1972-1985) and Pauline Fowler in the soap opera EastEnders (1985-2006). She died of breast cancer.

Norm Van Lier, 61. U.S. basketball player and broadcaster. Mr. Van Lier was a point guard at Saint Francis University (1966-69), and was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the third round (34th overall) of the NBA draft in 1969, but was promptly traded to the Cincinnati Royals. He played with the Royals (1969-71); Bulls (1971-78); and Milwaukee Bucks (1978-79), scoring 8,770 points, with 3,596 rebounds and 5,217 assists. Mr. Van Lier set an NBA record, since broken, with an 84-foot field goal, but was primarily known as an outstanding defensive player, making the First or Second All-Defensive Team eight times in ten years. Like Red Kerr, Mr. Van Lier provided colour commentary on broadcasts of Bulls' games, first on radio (1980-82) and then on television (1992-2009). He was found dead at his home of an apparent heart attack, hours before the death of Mr. Kerr.

February 25, 2019

240 years ago
1779

War
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark accepted British Lieutenant Governor Henry Hamilton’s unconditional surrender of Fort Sackville at Vincennes, Indiana.

210 years ago
1809

Born on this date
John Hart. U.K.-born-Australian politician. Mr. Hart was a sailor who first visited Australia in 1828, and settled in Adelaide in 1846. He was first elected to the South Australian Legislative Council in 1851, holding various offices, and serving as Premier of South Australia three times (October 1865-March 1866; September-October 1868; May 1870-November 1871). Mr. Hart was still a member of the House of Assembly when he died suddenly on January 28, 1873, four weeks before his 64th birthday.

130 years ago
1889

Born on this date
Homer Ferguson. U.S. politician, diplomat, and judge. Mr. Ferguson, a Republican, represented Michigan in the United States Senate from 1943-1955, chairing the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 1953-1955. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines (1955-1956) and then as a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (1956-1971). Mr. Ferguson died on December 17, 1982 at the age of 93.

120 years ago
1899

Died on this date
Paul Reuter, 82. German-born U.K. journalist. Mr. Reuter, born Israel Josaphat, moved to England in 1845 and founded Reuters News Agency in 1851. He eventually became a baron.

Hockey
CAHL
Ottawa (4-4) @ Quebec (0-8) (Ottawa won by forfeit)
Montreal Victorias (6-1) 10 @ Montreal (3-5) 6

The Quebec Hockey Club had dropped out of the league after losing their first six games, and forfeited their last two scheduled games.

100 years ago
1919

Economics and finance
Oregon placed a one cent per gallon tax on gasoline, becoming the first U.S. state to levy a gasoline tax.

80 years ago
1939

Defense
The first of 2​1⁄2 million Anderson air raid shelters appeared in North London.

75 years ago
1944

Died on this date
Charles McNary, 69. U.S. politician. Mr. McNary, a Republican, represented Oregon in the United States Senate from 1917-1944 and was Senate Minority Leader from 1933-1944. He was the Republican Party's candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1940, as Wendell Willkie's running mate. Mr. McNary died after unsuccessful surgery for a brain tumor, and the day after he had been re-elected Minority Leader.

James Reid Moir, 64. U.K. archaeologist. Mr. Moir established the existence of man in the Pliocene Epoch (approximately 5.332 million-2.588 million years before the present).

War
British troops captured the town of Kyauktaw in the Kaladan Valley of western Burma. U.S. Selective Service Commission Director Lewis Hershey told the U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee that the bottom of the manpower barrel had been reached. Tokyo radio reported a cabinet decision to restructure Japanese national life for the war effort, which meant a belt-tightening process.

Diplomacy
The Polish government-in-exile notified the U.K. that it would not accept the Curzon Line as a basis for border discussions with the U.S.S.R.

Journalism
The Soviet newspaper Pravda denounced "assistants of William Randolph Hearst" for "spilling poisoned ink to wreck the anti-Hitler coalition." Pravda referred to specific editorials in newspapers owned by the American magnate which outlined supposed Soviet plans to annex the Balkan countries.

Politics and government
General Edelmiro Farrell was named "Vice President in exercise of the executive power," assuming functions as acting President of Argentina, the day after the "resignation" of General Pedro Ramirez on grounds of "ill health."

70 years ago
1949

On television tonight
Your Show Time, hosted and narrated by Arthur Shields, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Invisible Wound, starring Reginald Denny and Maria Palmer

Space
A two-stage rocket reached a record altitude of 250 miles at a speed of 5,000 miles per hour above the White Sands proving grounds in New Mexico.

World events
15 Bulgarian Protestant leaders went on trial before a court in Sofia on charges of espionage and currency speculation. Three defendants read confessions in the opening session.

The Wuerttemberg-Baden Denazification Review Board nullified the eight-year prison sentence of former Riechsbank direcotr Hjalmar Schacht.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Harry Truman appointed James McDonald the first U.S. Ambassador to Israel, while Eliahu Elath was named Israeli Ambassador to the U.S.A.

Defense
A 20,000-man U.S. Navy task force returned to the United States after completing Operation Micowex, a month of amphibious maneuvers in the North Pacific Ocean.

Transportation
Eastern and National Airlines agreed to interchange traffic between Florida and Texas.

Economics and finance
The German Economic Administration of the U.S.-U.K. zone nominated 12 management trustees to direct the heavy industry of the Ruhr, with nominees requiring the approval of the Western Allied military governors.

Business
The U.S. Civil Aeronautics Borad granted a $7.8-million increase in airmail subsidies to seven U.S. airlines in an attempt to offset 1948 airline losses.

General Motors promised a $10-$40 price reduction of new cars.

Labour
General Motors announced that wages of 341,000 employees would be cut on March 7 under its cost-of-living contract with the United Auto Workers of America due to falling living costs.

60 years ago
1959

Politics and government
The U.S. Republican National Committee appointed a 44-member commission headed by Charles Percy, president of Bell & Howell Company, to draft a statement of the Republican Party's positions and objectives for the next 10-12 years.

Protest
One Somali was killed and 14 wounded in political rioting in Mogadishu.

Energy
The first of four nuclear reactors under construction in Scotland began supplying current to Britain's national power grid.

Transportation
El Al Airlines began airlifts between Vienna and Lydda airport in Israel to handle increased numbers of Jewish emigrants from Romania.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Beatles (5th week at #1)

Music
The single Memories/Charro by Elvis Presley was released on RCA Victor Records.

War
At the Paris peace talks, U.S. officials criticized the latest Viet Cong and North Vietnamese offensive against South Vietnam, saying that the attacks raised the question of whether the Communists really wanted peace.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon visited the House of Commons in London.

Protest
A high school student who identified himself as "Human Torch No. 2" died in Prague after setting himself afire in Saint Wenceslaus Square to protest the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Terrorism
A bomb exploded in Montreal, the tenth to explode in the city since the beginning of the year.

Politics and government
Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O'Neill said that he would not resign despite not being given a mandate for his moderate reform program aimed at meeting civil rights demands of the Roman Catholic minority in Northern Ireland.

Academia
Dr. William H. Masterson resigned as president of Rice University in Houston, Texas, three days after 1,000 students and 200 faculty members had rallied to protest his appointment.

Students at Pennsylvania State University complied with a court injunction and ended their occupation of the administration building.

Weather
Three days of heavy rain in southern California concluded with at least 12,500 homeless and 10 dead in mudslides and floods.

Disasters
A fire that swept through a Fifth Avenue office building in New York killed 11 and critically burned 5.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Y.M.C.A.--Village People

#1 single in Switzerland: Y.M.C.A.--Village People (6th week at #1)

War
Heavy fighting continued on the northern border between Vietnam and China. Chinese Deputy Premier Wang Chen claimed that China's invasion of Vietnamese territory would be "limited in scope and duration."

Fighting erupted along the border between Yemen and South Yemen as both nations accused each other of staging an invasion.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Jimmy Carter invited Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to join him and Egyptian Premier Mustafa Khalil at the Camp David peace talks in a bold move to hasten efforts to conclude a peace treaty.

Scandal
U.S. President Jimmy Carter disavowed recent comments by his brother Billy that were widely regarded as anti-Semitic, saying that he regretted them, and that they did not reflect his views.

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Italy (FIMI): 051/222525--Fabio Concato (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): You Got It--Roy Orbison (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Pour toi Arménie--Charles Aznavour and various artists (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Belfast Child--Simple Minds

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
2 Tonight - Live--Tina Turner (Duet with David Bowie)
3 You Got It--Roy Orbison
4 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals
5 We Cheer You Up (Join the Pin-Up Club)--Barbarella
6 Baby Don't Forget My Number--Milli Vanilli
7 Belfast Child (EP track)--Simple Minds
8 Four Letter Word--Kim Wilde
9 It's Only Love--Simply Red
10 Bring Me Edelweiss--Edelweiss

Singles entering the chart were Wild Thing by Tone Lōc (#21); My Prerogative by Bobby Brown (#23); Every Rose Has its Thorn by Poison (#26); The Living Years by Mike + the Mechanics (#29); Respect by Adeva (#30); and Countdown by the Countdown All Star Band (#35).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Straight Up--Paula Abdul (3rd week at #1)
2 Lost in Your Eyes--Debbie Gibson
3 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
4 The Lover in Me--Sheena Easton
5 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
6 She Wants to Dance with Me--Rick Astley
7 You Got It (The Right Stuff)--New Kids on the Block
8 What I Am--Edie Brickell and New Bohemians
9 The Living Years--Mike + the Mechanics
10 Walking Away--Information Society

Singles entering the chart were Heaven Help Me by Deon Estus (with George Michael) (#67); It's Only Love by Simply Red (#77); Seventeen by Winger (#78); Driven Out by the Fixx (#81); Radio Romance by Tiffany (#84); Birthday Suit by Johnny Kemp (#85); Falling Out of Love by Ivan Neville (#91); This Time by Kiara (Duet with Shanice Wilson (#93); I Can't Face the Fact by Gina Go-Go (#94); and Tribute (Right On) by the Pasadenas (#97).

U.S.A. top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Lost in Your Eyes--Debbie Gibson
2 Straight Up--Paula Abdul
3 The Lover in Me--Sheena Easton
4 Born to Be My Baby--Bon Jovi
5 You Got It (The Right Stuff)--New Kids on the Block
6 She Wants to Dance with Me--Rick Astley
7 What I Am--Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
8 Wild Thing--Tone Loc
9 When I'm with You--Sheriff
10 Walking Away--Information Society

Singles entering the chart were Room to Move by Animotion (#65); Tribute (Right On) by the Pasadenas (#72); I Cry Myself to Sleep at Night by Romeo's Daughter (#75); Radio Romance by Tiffany (#80); Heaven Help Me by Deon Estus (with George Michael) (#82); Seventeen by Winger (#85); Halleluiah Man by Love and Money (#87); and One by Metallica (#89).

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush flew to Beijing.

Skiing
Rob Boyd won a World Cup downhill race in his home town of Whistler, British Columbia, becoming the first Canadian to win a FIS World Cup Ski race in Canada.

Hockey
NHL
Edmonton 5 St. Louis 3

Football
NFL
Jerry Jones, the new owner of the Dallas Cowboys, fired head coach Tom Landry, who had been the team's only head coach through their first 29 seasons. Mr. Landry had led the Cowboys to Super Bowl championships in 1972 and 1978, and the classless manner of his dismissal outraged everyone with a sense of decency.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Without You--Mariah Carey (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Jersey Joe Walcott, 80. U.S. boxer. Mr. Walcott, born Arnold Cream, made several attempts to win the world heavyweight championship before finally succeeding. On July 18, 1951, in his fifth fight for the title, Mr. Walcott knocked out Ezzard Charles in the 7th round at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, becoming, at 37, the oldest man yet to win the title. After a successful defense against Mr. Charles, he lost the title when he was knocked out by Rocky Marciano on September 23, 1952. The two fought a rematch on May 15, 1953, and Mr. Walcott retired with a record of 51-18-2 after being knocked out in the 1st round.

Weather
It snowed in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Terrorism
U.S.-born Israeli physician Baruch Goldstein, 38, opened fire with an automatic rifle on Muslim worshippers at the Mosque of Abraham in Hebron, killing between 30 and 54 people before being beaten to death by iron bars.

Olympics
16-year-old Oksana Baiul of Ukraine won the gold medal in the women's figure skating competition at the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Four of the nine judges gave higher marks to Nancy Kerrigan of the United States, who won the silver medal. Tonya Harding, who had won the U.S. women's title after Miss Kerrigan had been forced to withdraw from the U.S. championship after being clubbed on the leg after a practice--as a result of a plot involving members of Ms. Harding's social circle and in which she had been implicated--finished eighth.

Baseball
Phil Rizzuto, the New York Yankees' shortstop from 1941-1942 and 1946-1956, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee at age 76 after 28 years of waiting. Mr. Rizzuto, nicknamed "Scooter," batted .273 with 38 home runs and 563 runs batted in in 1,661 games, and had played with 7 World Series championship teams. He had long been regarded as a borderline candidate for the Hall of Fame.

20 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Glenn Seaborg, 86. U.S. chemist. Dr. Seaborg, leader of the team that created plutonium in 1941, was awarded the 1951 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, for "discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements." He served as chairman of the Atomic Energy Committee from 1961-1971, where he pushed for commercial nuclear energy and the peaceful applications of nuclear science. Dr. Seaborg contributed to the discovery of ten elements: plutonium; americium; curium; berkelium; californium; einsteinium; fermium; mendelevium; nobelium; and element 106, which was named seaborgium in his honour during his lifetime.

Crime
John William King, a self-described white supremacist, was sentenced to death by lethal injection by the same jury that had convicted him two days earlier of murder in the death of James Byrd, Jr., a Negro who had been seized by Mr. King and two others, tied to the back of a truck, and dragged to his death along rural roads near Jasper, Texas.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Philip José Farmer, 91. U.S. author. Mr. Farmer was a science fiction writer who wrote almost 60 novels and over 100 short stories and novellas. He frequently worked sexual and religious themes into his work.

Defense
Members of the Bangladesh Rifles mutinied at their headquarters in Pilkhana, resulting in 74 deaths, in addition to 8 mutineers killed.

Disasters
Turkish Airlines Flight 1951, a Boeing 737 jetliner en route from Istanbul, crashed during landing at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, primarily due to a faulty radio altimeter, resulting in the death of nine passengers and crew, including all three pilots.

February 24, 2019

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Kavis Reed!

280 years ago
1739

War
The army of Iranian ruler Nader Shah defeated the forces of Mughal Emperor of India Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal in Punjab.

110 years ago
1909

Born on this date
George Robson. U.K.-born U.S. auto racing driver. Mr. Robson was born in England before moving to Ontario and eventually settling in Indiana. He participated in three Indianapolis 500s, winning in 1946. Just over three months later, at the age of 37, he was killed when his car collided with that of George Barringer, who was also killed, during the Atlanta 100 on September 2, 1946.

August Derleth. U.S. writer. Mr. Derleth wrote more than 100 books and 150 short stories, as well as poems and essays. He was best known for the novels, non-fiction, and poetry that comprised the Sac Prairie Saga, inspired by his home town of Sauk City, Wisconsin. Mr. Derleth also created the fictional detective Solar Pons, a pastiche of Sherlock Holmes, who was the subject of 70 short stories and a novel. Mr. Derleth died of a heart attack on July 4, 1971 at the age of 62.

Riccardo Freda. Egyptian-born Italian film director and screenwriter. Mr. Freda wrote and/or directed movies in various genres in a career spanning almost 60 years. His films included I Vampiri (1957); The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962); and Revenge of the Musketeers (1994). Mr. Freda died on December 20, 1999 at the age of 90.

90 years ago
1929

Died on this date
André Messager, 75. French composer and conductor. Mr. Messager wrote eight ballets and 30 comic operas, operettas, and other works. His best-known works included the ballet Les Deux Pigeons (1886) and the comic opera Véronique (1898). As a conductor, Mr. Messager was best known for the premiere performance of Pelléas et Mélisande (1902) by Claude Debussy. Mr. Messager died after a short illness.

75 years ago
1944

War
The U.S. Army and Navy reported total U.S. casualties in World War II at 157,865 through February 7, including 36,005 killed, 54,867 wounded, 35,830 missing, and 31,163 captured. The U.S. force known as Merrill's Marauders began their 1,000-mile journey through Japanese-occupied Burma. The Allies announced that the western end of New Britain Island from Rottock Bay to Arawa was now completely in American hands. Allies cleared the Japanese from Ngakyedauk Pass on the Arakan front. In a three-day-old offensive, Soviet troops advanced 12-15 miles along a 30-mile front in White Russia and captured the large railway junction of Rogachev. In their second coordinated attack, U.S. planes taking off from Britain and Italy struck at targets in Germany. The government of Chile smashed a Nazi spy ring, arresting scores of alleged Nazi agents.

Politics and government
Argentine President General Pedro Ramirez resigned because of "ill health," but it was reported from Montevideo that he was toppled by an army coup.

The U.S. House of Representatives overrode President Franklin D. Roosevelt's veto of the tax bill. The U.S. Senate Democratic caucus re-elected Alben Barkley (Kentucky) as its leader after accepting his resignation.

Diplomacy
Representative John Coffee (Democrat--Washington) asked the United States Congress to sever diplomatic relations with the Spanish regime of Generalissimo Francisco Franco and give support to anti-Fascist forces there.

70 years ago
1949

Movies
Hamlet, directed by and starring Laurence Olivier, won the BAFTA award as the Best Film from Any Source.

Space
The United States launched the sounding rocket Bumper 5 from White Sands Proving Grounds in White Sands, New Mexico; the mission was a success.

War
The Armistice Agreements were signed in Rhodes, formally ending the hostilities of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Nationalist Chinese peace envoys met with Communist leaders Mao Tse-tung and Chou En-lai at Communist headquarters near Peking. U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson met with 30 Republican congressmen who were demanding greater aid to the Nationalist Chinese government; he refused to promise any change in U.S. policy toward China.

Yugoslavian Deputy Foreign Minister Ales Beber offered to reduce his country's demands on Austria at a London conference on the Austrian peace treaty.

Diplomacy
Pro-Soviet U.S. writer Anna Louise Strong arrived in New York after being deported from the U.S.S.R. on espionage charges.

Defense
The U.S. Air Force displayed a prototype of its newest jet fighter, the Republic XF-91, designed to fly at 700-900 miles per hour for high-altitude interception.

Oil
The U.S. Commerce Department lifted a 10-month restriction against exports of steel from completion of the 1,067-mile Trans-Arabian pipeline from Saudi Arabia to the Mediterranean Sea.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee passed a bipartisan bill providing $1.8 billion in grants, loans, and direct contributions for construction of low-cost public housing.

60 years ago
1959

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Epilogue, starring Julie Adams, Charles Aidman, Charles Herbert, and William Schallert



Diplomacy
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev warned that if the West refused to sign a peace treaty with the two German states, the U.S.S.R. would negotiate a separate pact with East Germany and terminate its occupation functions in Berlin.

Oddities
American Airlines pilot Peter Killian saw what appeared to be three flying saucers accompanying his plane en route to Detroit from Newark; his sightings were substantiated by pilots of two other planes in the vicinity.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Blue Light Yokohama--Ayumi Ishida (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Eloise--Barry Ryan (6th week at #1)

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
2 Everyday People--Sly & the Family Stone
3 Touch Me--The Doors
4 Can I Change My Mind--Tyrone Davis
5 Worst that Could Happen--Brooklyn Bridge
6 You Showed Me--The Turtles
7 Games People Play--Joe South
8 This Magic Moment--Jay and the Americans
9 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
10 These Eyes--The Guess Who?

Singles entering the chart were I Don't Know Why by Stevie Wonder (#68); Shotgun by the Vanilla Fudge (#71); The Weight by Aretha Franklin (#77); Albatross by Fleetwood Mac (#80); When He Touches Me (Nothing Else Matters) by Peaches and Herb (#83); Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show by Neil Diamond (#84); Back Door Man by Derek (#87); Soul Experience by Iron Butterfly (#89); King Size by Jayson Hoover (#92); My Deceiving Heart by the Impressions (#94); Snatching it Back by Clarence Carter (#95); I Like What You're Doing (To Me) by Carla Thomas (#96); Anything You Choose by Spanky and Our Gang (#97); Put the Torch to Me by Marquis (#98); Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' by Crazy Elephant (#99); and Twenty-Five Miles by Edwin Starr (#100).

Space
The United States launched Mariner 6 from Cape Kennedy, Florida; the probe was destined to fly by Mars in late July.

War
Israeli jets bombed two alleged guerrilla camps used as bases by Al Fatah on the Damascus-Beirut road in Syria, and claimed that hundreds of commandos were caught in the 30-minute strike and that two Syrian planes had been downed. The Israeli air strike was in retaliation for 12 terrorist attacks on Israeli-held Golan Heights from Syrian bases during the previous two weeks.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon continued his European trip with a visit to London. He was met by British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and had lunch with Queen Elizabeth II.

France declared that it would refuse to attend any meetings of the Western European Union until the WEU Permanent Council agreed to her condition that all meetings be called unanimously.

Politics and government
Northern Ireland Prime Minister Terence O'Neill fell short in an effort to win a mandate for his moderate reform program aimed at meeting civil rights demands of Ulster's Roman Catholic minority in the N.I. general election. Although Mr. O'Neill's Ulster Unionist Party won 36 of 52 seats in the House of Commons, the UUP was split into pro-O'Neill and anti-O'Neill factions, with 13 of the UUP's 36 seats going to the anti-O'Neill faction. The Nationalist Party, led by Eddie McAteer, was next with 6 seats. Mr. O'Neill retained his seat in the rural riding of Bannside with 7,745 votes to 6,631 for Protestant leader Rev. Ian Paisley.

Academia
Students at Pennsylvania State University occupied the administration building. U.S. President Nixon wrote a letter of praise to University of Notre Dame president Theodore Hesburgh endorsing Rev. Hesburgh's "get tough" policy on student protesters.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): My Life--Billy Joel

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Mi scappa la pipì, papà--Pippo Franco (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: Chiquitita--ABBA (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Heart of Glass--Blondie (4th week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 (You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back--Peter Tosh (support vocals: Mick Jagger) (3rd week at #1)
2 Chiquitita--ABBA
3 You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)--Meat Loaf
4 'k Heb Hele Grote Bloemkoole--André Van Duin (als Meneer De Bok)
5 Le Freak--Chic
6 Now that We Found Love--Third World
7 How You Gonna See Me Now--Alice Cooper
8 Every Time I Think of You--The Babys
9 Fire!--Pointer Sisters
10 Ik Ben Verliefd Op John Travolta--Sandy

Singles entering the chart were Tragedy by the Bee Gees (#21); The Runner by the Three Degrees (#29); Save the Last Dance for Me by Jerry Lee Lewis and Friends (#30); Let's Start the Dance by Bohannon (#32); and Ruthless Queen by Kayak (#33).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart (3rd week at #1)
2 Fire--Pointer Sisters
3 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
4 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
5 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
6 Tragedy--Bee Gees
7 Le Freak--Chic
8 Lotta Love--Nicolette Larson
9 Somewhere in the Night--Barry Manilow
10 I was Made for Dancin'--Leif Garrett

Singles entering the chart were Watch Out for Lucy by Eric Clapton and his Band (#77); It Hurts So Bad by Kim Carnes (#78); Love Ballad by George Benson (#81); Roxanne by the Police (#82); You Can't Win (Part 1) by Michael Jackson (#83); Call Out My Name by Zwol (#85); Stay the Night by the Faragher Brothers (#88); Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop) by Parliament (#89); Make it Last by Brooklyn Dreams (#90); Can You Read My Mind by Maureen McGovern (#92); This is It by Dan Hartman (#93); and Heartaches by BTO (#94). Can You Read My Mind was from the movie Superman (1978).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart (4th week at #1)
2 Fire--Pointer Sisters
3 I Will Survive--Gloria Gaynor
4 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
5 Le Freak--Chic
6 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
7 Heaven Knows--Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams
8 Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees
9 Shake Your Groove Thing--Peaches & Herb
10 Shake It--Ian Matthews

Singles entering the chart were Love Ballad by George Benson (#83); I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get it Girl) by Instant Funk (#84); Stay the Night by the Faragher Brothers (#86); Blow Away by George Harrison (#88); Our Love is Insane by Desmond Child and Rouge (#96); and Love Struck by Stonebolt (#98).

Canada's top 10 (RPM)
1 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
2 A Little More Love--Olivia Newton-John
3 Fire--Pointer Sisters
4 Too Much Heaven--Bee Gees
5 Lotta Love--Nicolette Larson
6 Y.M.C.A.--Village People
7 Every 1's a Winner--Hot Chocolate
8 Shake It--Ian Matthews
9 My Life--Billy Joel
10 Somewhere in the Night--Barry Manilow

Singles entering the chart were Giving Up, Giving In by the Three Degrees (#92); Pick on Me by Dan Hill (#96); Instant Replay by Dan Hartman (#97); and For Your Love by Chilly (#100).

Defense
U.S. President Jimmy Carter named Army Chief of Staff General Bernard H. Rogers to succeed General Alexander Haig as commander of United States forces in Europe and Supreme Commander of NATO forces.

Scandal
Joshua Eilberg, former Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania, was fined $10,000 and sentenced to 5 years' probation after pleading to charges that while in office he illegally accepted money for helping his former law firm obtain a $14.5 million grant for a Philadelphia hospital.

Disasters
A coal gas explosion ripped through Number 26 Colliery in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, killing 12 men.

Hockey
NHL
Detroit 1 @ New York Islanders 3
St. Louis 4 @ Montreal 6
New York Rangers 4 @ Toronto 2
Boston 4 @ Vancouver 3

Islanders' right wing Mike Bossy reached the 50-goal mark for the second consecutive season when he knocked in his second goal of the night in his team's win over the Wings at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): First Time--Robin Beck (7th week at #1)

Died on this date
Sparky Adams, 94. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Adams was an infielder with the Chicago Cubs (1922-1927); Pittsburgh Pirates (1928-1929); St. Louis Cardinals (1930-1933); and Cincinnati Reds (1933-1934), batting .286 with 9 home runs and 394 runs batted in in 1,424 games. He hit .314 with the Cardinals when they won the National League pennant in 1930, and .293 with a league-leading 46 doubles as the Cardinals won the World Series in 1931. Mr. Adams was, at 5' 4 1/2", the shortest player in the major leagues during his career, and was the last surviving member of the Cardinals' 1931 World Series championship team.

Music
John O'Conor finished recording the album Nocturnes of John Field at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts.

World events
48 days after his death, Japan's Emperor Hirohito was buried in Tokyo in a day-long Shinto ceremony. 160 countries were represented, and 55 heads of state were in attendance, including U.S. President George Bush.

Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa offered a $3-million bounty for the death of British novelist Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses (1988), deemed to be disrespectful to the prophet Muhammad.

Protest
Indian police shot and killed 12 people and wounded 40 during a riot in Bombay against Salman Rushdie.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board increased its discount rate--the rate on loans paid by financial institutions--from 6.5% to 7.0%, the highest level in almost three years.

Disasters
United Airlines Flight 811, a Boeing 747-122 jet bound for Auckland from Honolulu, suffered a cargo door failure 16 minutes after takeoff, blowing 9 passengers out of the business-class section to their deaths.

25 years ago
1994

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Move on Baby--Cappella

Died on this date
Dinah Shore, 77. U.S. singer and television personality. Miss Shore was the biggest-selling female solo vocalist of the 1940s, and continued her popularity as a recording artist into the early 1950s. When sales of her records started to slow down, she achieved popularity on television, hosting several variety and talk shows through the 1970s.

20 years ago
1999

Scandal
In a television interview broadcast this night, Juanita Broaddrick claimed that U.S. President Bill Clinton had raped her in a Little Rock hotel room in April 1978 while she was attending a nurses' conference.

Law
The Macpherson Report into the 1993 murder of Negro teenager Stephen Lawrence in London stated that the Metropolitan Police force was "institutionally racist," and condemned officers for "fundamental errors." Mr. Lawrence was stabbed to death by white youths at a London bus stop, but charges charges were dropped because of lack of evidence, and a later private prosecution by Mr. Lawrence's parents was similarly unsuccessful.