March 15, 2019

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Walker Morrow!

240 years ago
1779

Born on this date
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1834, 1835-1841. Mr. Lamb, a Whig, sat in the House of Commons for most of the period of 1806-1828 before succeeding his father as Viscount Melbourne and moving to the House of Lords. He served as Chief Secretary for Ireland (1827-1828) and Home Secretary (1830-1834) before succeeding Earl Grey as Prime Minister. King William IV opposed Viscount Melbourne's reforming ways, and dismissed him, becoming the last British monarch to dismiss a Prime Minister. Viscount Melbourne returned to power after the Whigs won the 1835 general election; his time as Prime Minister wasn't characterized by various legal reforms, including reform of the Poor Laws. Viscount Melbourne's government fell after losing a non-confidence vote in August 1841, and he remained as Leader of the Opposition for 14 months, retiring after suffering a stroke. Viscount Melbourne was known for leading a scandalous private life, and being a close friend and adviser to Queen Victoria before her marriage to Prince Albert. He died on November 24, 1848 at the age of 69. The city of Melbourne, Australia was named in his honour.

200 years ago
1819

Science
French physicist Augustin Fresnel was adjudged the winner of the Grand Prix of the Académie des Sciences for his Memoir on the Diffraction of Light, which verified the Fresnel integrals, accounting for the limited extent to which light spreads into shadows, thereby demolishing Isaac Newton's initial objection to the wave theory of light.

150 years ago
1869

Born on this date
Stanisław Wojciechowski. President of Poland, 1922-1926. Mr. Wojciechowski, a Socialist, was imprisoned by Russian authorities in the early 1890s, and then moved to Zurich, Paris, and London before legally returning to Poland in 1906. He served as minister of the interior from 1919-1920, and helped to draft Poland's new constitution before becoming President after the assassination of Gabriel Narutowicz in December 1922. Amid declining economic conditions, Mr. Wojciechowski was forced to resign in May 1926, following a coup d'etat led by former colleague Józef Piłsudski. Mr. Wojciechowski spent his remaining years as a private citizen until his death on April 9, 1953 at the age of 84.

Baseball
The Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first baseball team composed completely of professionals, played their initial game, routing Antioch College 41-7. The Red Stockings, paid an average annual salary of $950, and a total payroll of $11,000, finished the year with a record of 51-0-1.

125 years ago
1894

Society
The provincial legislature of Nova Scotia voted in favour of prohibition of alcoholic beverages.

100 years ago
1919

Born on this date
Lawrence Tierney. U.S. actor. Mr. Tierney was known for playing tough guys, starring in films such as Dillinger (1945); Born to Kill (1947); and The Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947). He was as tough offstage as on, accumulating a long criminal rap sheet for bar fights that severely impaired his career. Mr. Tierney appeared in numerous plays and television programs, and achieved some success in later years, with supporting roles in the movies Tough Guys Don't Dance (1987) and Reservoir Dogs (1992), and playing the desk sergeant in the television series Hill Street Blues. He made one appearance in the television comedy series Seinfeld as Alton Benes, the father of Elaine Benes, but the rest of the cast were so intimidated by Mr. Tierney, that he was never invited back. He died of pneumonia on February 26, 2002, 17 days before his 83rd birthday.

Defense
The American Legion was founded in Paris.

80 years ago
1939

Married on this date
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, 19, Crown Prince and future Shah of Iran, married 17-year-old Princess Fawzia of Egypt at the Abdeen Palace in Cairo.

World events
German troops occupied the remaining part of Bohemia and Moravia, as the republic of Czechoslovakia ceased to exist. Carpatho-Ukraine, an autonomous region within Czechoslovakia since the fall of 1938, declared itself an independent republic.

75 years ago
1944

War
In a five-hour air attack, Allied planes virtually levelled the Italian town of Cassino. Soviet troops forced the Bug River along a 62-mile front and advanced 12-19 miles. Yugloslavian partisans announced the smashing of a German attempt to break into liberated Slovenian territory. American troops landed on the northeastern tip of Manus Island, largest of the Admiralty Islands group. Land-based planes made the first Allied attack on Japanese-held Truk in the Caroline Islands. U.S. Selective Service director Lewis Hershey said that farm workers' deferments must be cancelled to meet armed services requirements of 1.1 million men by July 1.

Defense
North American Aviation Inc. announced that its P-51 Mustang fighter had a speed of 425 miles per hour in level flight, a radius of more than 500 miles, and a ceiling of 40,000 feet.

Politics and government
The Cuban government coalition of the Liberal, Democratic, ABC, and Popular Socialist parties nominated Dr. Carlos Saladrigas as its presidential candidate.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the "states rights" bill on absentee votes for armed services personnel and sent it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who telegraphed all state governments to ask if the federal ballot could legally be used.

Labour
The U.S. National War Labor Board rejected a petition by the American Federation of Labor to modify the Little Steel wage formula limiting wage increases to 15%.

70 years ago
1949

On the radio
The Casebook of Gregory Hood, starring Elliott Lewis, on MBS

On television tonight
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Suspicion, starring Ernest Truex, Sylvia Field, and Viola Roache



Died on this date
Bill Cissell, 45. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Cissell, an infielder, played with five major league teams from 1928-1938, batting .267 with 29 home runs and 423 runs batted in in 956 games. He spent his first four seasons with the Chicago White Sox, but failed to live up to expectations. Mr. Cissell eventually turned to drink, and reportedly spent some years wandering around Comiskey Park in Chicago as a part-time labourer. He died of malnutrition.

Defense
Foreign and defense ministers of the Western European Union states completed a two-day meeting in London, reaching agreement on unifying and expanding their forces.

Movies
The U.S. Motion Picture Export Association signed an agreement with Yugoslavia permitting entry of U.S. films for the first time since World War II.

Basketball
West Virginia State University defeated North Carolina College 60-53 in Washington, D.C. to win the U.S. "colored" intercollegiate title.

60 years ago
1959

Hit parade
#1 single in France (IFOP): La marche des gosses--Annie Cordy

On television tonight
Alfred Hitchcock Presents, on CBS
Tonight's episode: I'll Take Care of You, starring Ralph Meeker, Russell Collins, and Elisabeth Fraser

Died on this date
Duncan Hines, 78. U.S. businessman. Mr. Hines was a travelling salesman who used his experience of eating in restaurants to compile a rating service for restaurants, while also writing a newspaper column about food. In 1952 he started the baked foods company that bears his name, selling the rights a year later. Mr. Hines died of lung cancer, 11 days before his 79th birthday.

Lester Young, 49. U.S. musician. Mr. Young, nicknamed "Prez," was a jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist who became one of the most influential jazz saxophonists ever. He achieved prominence with the Count Basie Orchestra from 1933-1940, with brief interludes as a member of the bands of Fletcher Henderson and Andy Kirk. Heavy drinking eventually affected Mr. Young's performances, although he made a successful comeback in the late 1950s. Mr. Young went on a European tour in 1959, but reportedly drank heavily and ate almost nothing. He cut the tour short and died hours after returning to New York. Mr. Young was known for his close musical association with singer Billie Holiday, and she died just four months later.

Politics and government
Northern Nigerian Premier Alhaji Ahmadu assumed the presidency of Nigeria's Executive Council from British Governor Sir Gawain Bell as the territory was granted internal autonomy.

Gaullists, rightists, and non-political candidates gained against moderates and leftists in elections for seats on French municipal councils.

Hockey
IIHF World Championships
Final Round @ Prague
U.S.S.R. (4-1) 4 Sweden (1-4) 2
Czechoslovakia (3-2) 5 Canada (4-1) 3

Despite losing to Czechoslovakia, the Belleville McFarlands, representing Canada, won the gold medal over the Soviet Union on the basis of goal differential in the five games of the final round. The McFarlands scored 21 goals and allowed 7 for a differential of 10, while the Soviets scored 20 and allowed 0, for a differential of 10. Czechoslovakia scored into an empty net late in their win over Canada to take third place ahead of the United States; the two teams were both (3-2), with goal differentials of 8, but the Czechoslovakians allowed 14 goals to 15 for the U.S.A., and their 1.53 goals against average was better than the Americans' 1.57, serving as the third tie-breaking criterion. The Americans had beaten the Czechoslovakians 4-2 in their final round game.

50 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da/While My Guitar Gently Weeps--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): Eloise--Barry Ryan with the Majority (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Casatchok--Dimitri Dourakine and his Orchestra (11th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Ma che freddo fa--Nada (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da--The Beatles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Lonely Woods of Upton--Sean Dunphy (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?--Peter Sarstedt (2nd week at #1)

Austria's top 10 (Ö3)
1 Ob La Di, Ob La Da--The Beatles
2 Eloise--Barry Ryan
3 Liebesleid--Peter Alexander
4 Es wird Nacht, Señorita--Udo Jürgens
5 Sometimes--Mireille Mathieu
6 Lily the Pink--The Scaffold
7 Es geht eine Träne auf Reisen--Adamo
8 Only One Woman--The Marbles
9 My Little Lady--The Tremeloes
10 Son-of-a Preacher Man--Dusty Springfield

Singles entering the chart were Ob La Di, Ob La Da; Liebesleid; Es wird Nacht, Señorita; Lily the Pink; Son-of-a Preacher Man; Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells (#11); Fox on the Run by Manfred Mann (#13); Blackberry Way by the Move (#14); Atlantis by Donovan (#15); I Started a Joke by the Bee Gees (#16); Rot ist die Liebe by Anna-Lena (#17); I'm a Tiger by Lulu (#18); Hey Jude by Wilson Pickett (#19); and Hello, Mr. Sir... by the Hubbubs (#20).

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Atlantis--Donovan (3rd week at #1)
2 Spooky's Day Off--Swinging Soul Machine
3 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells
4 Ring of Fire--Eric Burdon and the Animals
5 Baby Won't You Leave Me Alone--The Web (with John L. Watson)
6 First of May--The Bee Gees
7 Ain't Got No--I Got Life--Nina Simone
8 Why--The Cats
9 Frank Mills--Bojoura
10 Love is Love--Barry Ryan

Singles entering the chart were First of May; Why; Sorry Suzanne by the Hollies (#28); A Lover's Question by Otis Redding (#32); Don Juan by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich (#36); Casatchok by Rika Zaraï (#39); and She's Not There by Neil MacArthur (#40).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
2 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 Everyday People--Sly & the Family Stone
4 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
5 Traces--Classics IV
6 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells
7 This Girl's in Love with You--Dionne Warwick
8 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
9 Time of the Season--The Zombies
10 This Magic Moment--Jay and the Americans

Singles entering the chart were I'll Try Something New by Diana Ross and the Supremes & the Temptations (#54); Don't Give in to Him by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (#69); Goodbye Columbus by the Association (#80); Hair by the Cowsills (#84); Time is Tight by Booker T. & the M.G.'s (#86); Kick Out the Jams by MC5 (#90); Tracks of My Tears by Aretha Franklin (#91); Move in a Little Closer, Baby by Mama Cass (#92); It's Your Thing by the Isley Brothers (#93); Time Was by Canned Heat (#94); The Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton (#96); and God Knows I Love You by Nancy Sinatra (#100). Time is Tight, and its non-charting B side, Johnny I Love You, were from the movie Up Tight (1968).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
2 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
3 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
4 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
5 This Magic Moment--Jay and the Americans
6 Time of the Season--The Zombies
7 Everyday People--Sly & the Family Stone
8 Traces--Classics IV
9 Baby, Baby Don't Cry--Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
10 This Girl's in Love with You--Dionne Warwick

Singles entering the chart were I'll Try Something New by Diana Ross and the Supremes & the Temptations (#57); Don't Give in to Him by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (#66); Memories by Elvis Presley (#73); Move in a Little Closer, Baby by Mama Cass (#76); It's Your Thing by the Isley Brothers (#78); Hawaii Five-O by the Ventures (#85); I Still Love You by Jackie Wilson (#87); Ice Cream Song by the Dynamics (#88); The Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton (#92); The Chokin' Kind by Joe Simon (#96); I Had a Dream by Shorty Long (#97); The Wedding Cake by Connie Francis (#99); and Albatross by Fleetwood Mac (#100). Memories was a studio version of a song originally recorded live for the television special Singer Presents...Elvis (1968).

Calgary's Top 10 (Glenn's Music)
1 Dizzy--Tommy Roe
2 Build Me Up Buttercup--The Foundations
3 Indian Giver--1910 Fruitgum Co.
4 Condition Red--The Goodees
5 Proud Mary--Creedence Clearwater Revival
6 Crimson and Clover--Tommy James and the Shondells
7 Something's Happening--Herman's Hermits
8 Bears--Quicksilver Messenger Service
9 Johnny One Time--Brenda Lee
10 Things I'd Like to Say--The New Colony Six
Pick hit of the week: Galveston--Glen Campbell

Died on this date
Miles Malleson, 80. U.K. actor and screenwriter. Mr. Malleson was a character actor in movies for more than 30 years, appearing in supporting roles in films such as The Sign of Four (1932); Stage Fright (1950); and Scrooge (1951). He also wrote screenplays for movies such as The Thief of Bagdad (1940). Mr. Malleson died after surgery for cataracts.

War
The U.S.S.R. and China resumed fighting over Chenpao (Damansky) Island) in the frozen Ussuri River on the Soviet-Chinese border. Each country accused the other of instigating the conflict.

Communist rockets landed in Saigon in the second bombardment of a major South Vietnamese city in as many days.

Paratroops of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division participated in a simulated counterattack described as "the longest airborne assault in history," flying 8,500 miles from Fort Bragg, North Carolina to a target area 40 miles south of Seoul. An American soldier was killed in a two-hour skirmish with North Korean forces in the DMZ west of Panmunjom.

World events
The Agency for International Development reported that any progress attained for Latin America by the Alliance for Progress had been "largely canceled out" by the region's "staggeringly high" birthrates.

Former United States President Dwight Eisenhower suffered an episode of congestive heart failure at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

40 years ago
1979

Hit parade
Austria's top 10 (Ö3)
1 Y.M.C.A.--Village People (5th week at #1)
2 Trojan Horse--Luv'
3 Darlin'--Frankie Miller
4 The Devil Sent You to Lorado--Baccara
5 You're the Greatest Lover--Luv'
6 Le Freak--Chic
7 Ballade pour Adeline--Richard Clayderman
8 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?--Rod Stewart
9 Chiquitita--ABBA
10 Blue Bayou--Paola

Singles entering the chart were Chiquitita; My Life by Billy Joel (#11); Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick by Ian Dury and the Blockheads (#19); Heart of Glass by Blondie (#20); and Nights in the City by Wilfried (#25).

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Ballerina

Diplomacy
The Egyptian cabinet approved the last provisions of the peace treaty with Israel.

Religion
Pope John Paul II, in his first papal encyclical, declared his theological conservatism and his concern for the world's poor.

Economics and finance
The United States House of Representatives approved an increase in the national debt limit by $32 billion to $830 billion total, but the close 201-199 vote showed growing support for a balanced federal budget.

30 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): Bring Me Edelweiss--Edelweiss (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Did I Tell You--Jerry Williams (4th week at #1)

Austria's top 10 (Ö3)
1 She Drives Me Crazy--Fine Young Cannibals
2 Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart--Marc Almond featuring Gene Pitney
3 Das Phantom der Oper--Alexander Goebel & Luzia Nistler
4 In the Air Tonight ('88 Remix)--Phil Collins
5 Twist in My Sobriety--Tanita Tikaram
6 First Time--Robin Beck
7 Buffalo Stance--Neneh Cherry
8 Listen to the Voices--Labi Siffre
9 Put a Little Love in Your Heart--Annie Lennox and Al Green
10 Tango Korrupti--Rainhard Fendrich

Singles entering the chart were Crackers International by Erasure (#17); Love Like a River by Climie Fisher (#18); Room with a View by Tony Carey (#20); and You Got It by Roy Orbison (#22).

Scandal
At the trial of former U.S. National Security Council member Oliver North, who was facing various charges related to the mid-1980s Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal, former national security adviser Robert McFarlane testified that President Ronald Reagan had approved an April 1985 plan to give Honduras $110 million in aid in return for Honduran support for the Contras, who were opposing the Sandanista regime in Nicaragua.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that the merchandise trade deficit had declined to $9.49 billion in January.

Hockey
NHL
Detroit 8 Edmonton 6

25 years ago
1994

Politics and government
U.S. Representative Dan Rostenkowski (Democrat--Illinois), chairman of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, was renominated for the November 1994 election, defeating four challengers. Mr. Rostenkowski was facing an ongoing criminal investigation into his financial affairs.

Economics and finance
The United States Labor Department reported that prices charged by producers for finished goods had increased 0.5% in February.

20 years ago
1999

Scandal
Investigators appointed by the European Parliament reported that the European Commissioners, the executive wing of the EU, had mismanaged programs for which they were responsible and had hired friends who were unqualified for their positions. Six commissioners, including former President Edith Cresson of France, came under sharpest criticism. It was concluded that she knew that millions of euros were being wasted on her programs.

The United States Central Intelligence Agency began an inquiry into how U.S. national security might have been damaged by China obtaining information from Los Alamos National Laboratory.

10 years ago
2009

Died on this date
Ron Silver, 62. U.S. actor. Mr. Silver played Gary Levy in the television comedy series Rhoda (1976-1978), and was known for his many appearances in television programs and made-for-television movies. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his supporting performance in the made-for-television movie Billionaire Boys Club (1987). Mr. Silver made 19 appearances on The West Wing (2001-2002, 2005-2006), and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2002. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for his performance in the television movie Jack (2004), and was nominated for a Gemini Award for his co-starring performance in the made-for-television movie Kissinger and Nixon (1995). Mr. Silver was known as a strong advocate for the state of Israel, and for various liberal political causes. He changed his political affiliation from Democrat to Republican after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Mr. Silver was a longtime smoker, and died of lung cancer.

Politics and government
Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) candidate Mauricio Funes became the first leftist to be elected President of El Salvador, receiving 51.32% of the vote to 48.68% for Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) candidate Rodrigo Ávila. It was ARENA's first loss in a presidential election in 20 years.