April 2, 2020

300 years ago
1720

Died on this date
Joseph Dudley, 72. American politician. Mr. Dudley, a native of Massachusetts Bay Colony, was President of the Dominion of New England (May 25-December 20, 1686); represented Newtown, Isle of Wight in the English House of Commons (1701-1702); and served as Governor of the Provinces of Massachusetts and New Hampshire (1702-1715). He was very unpopular as Governor of Massachusetts, attempting to obtain a regular salary, and conducting unsuccessful military campaigns.

220 years ago
1800

Music
Ludwig van Beethoven conducted the premiere of his First Symphony at K.K. Hoftheater nächst der Burg in Vienna. The program also included his Septet and a symphony by Mozart.

Diplomacy
The Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire concluded the Treaty of Constantinople, which established the Septinsular Republic, the first autonomous Greek state since the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453.

180 years ago
1840

Born on this date
Émile Zola. French writer. Mr. Zola wrote novels and short stories, but was perhaps best known for J'Accuse...! (1898), an open letter to French President Félix Faure, accusing the French army of obstruction of justice and antisemitism in the 1893 conviction and imprisonment on Devil's Island of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jew, of passing military secrets to Germany. Mr. Zola died at the age of 62 on September 29, 1902, of carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty chimney, a death that some have said was murder.

160 years ago
1860

Politics and government
The first Italian Parliament met at Turin.

150 years ago
1870

Politics and government
New York magazine publisher Victoria Woodhull announced her candidacy for President of the United States in 1872.

120 years ago
1900

Born on this date
Roberto Arlt. Argentine writer. Mr. Arlt wrote novels and plays, but was best known for his Aguafuertes (Etchings), his columns in the Buenos Aires daily newspaper El Mundo from 1928 until his death from a stroke on July 26, 1942 at the age of 42.

Anis Fuleihan. Cypriot-born U.S. musician, composer, and conductor. Mr. Fuleihan moved to the United States at the age of 15, settling in New York City and becoming an American citizen in 1925, after several years as a concert pianist. He conducted for radio before teaching at Indiana University, directing the Beirut Conservatory, and organizing the Orchestre Classique de Tunis. Mr. Fuleihan's best-known works were a Theremin Concerto and Mediterranean Suite. He died on October 11, 1970 at the age of 70.

Politics and government
The United States Congress passed the Foraker Act, giving Puerto Rico limited self-rule.

Labour
American Federation of Labor President Samuel Gompers announced that his organization planned to form a baseball players' union. He felt that with the National League's reduction to 8 teams--and the subsequent loss of income by many players on the 4 disbanded teams--players might overcome their reservations and join the union.

110 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Paul Triquet. Canadian military officer. Brigadier General Triquet, a native of Cabano, Quebec, served with the Canadian Army from 1927-1956. He was a captain with the Royal 22e Régiment (Royal 22nd Regiment, popularly known as the "Van Doos") when he earned the Victoria Cross for his actions in Italy during the Moro River Campaign on December 14, 1943. With all the officers dead or wounded, Capt. Triquet led a charge through enemy resistance and held their position, although badly outnumbered, until a relief force arrived the following day. Brigadier General Triquet died in Montreal on August 8, 1980 at the age of 70.

Chico Xavier. Brazilian medium. Mr. Xavier, born Francisco de Paula Cândido, wrote almost 500 books and several thousand letters, using a process of "automatic writing." He claimed that he was just a channel of the spirits, and that he possessed no supernatural powers, such as healing people. Mr. Xavier's books sold 50 million copies, and he donated the receipts to charity. He died on June 30, 2002 at the age of 92.

100 years ago
1920

Born on this date
Jack Webb. U.S. actor and director. Mr. Webb was best known for starring as Sergeant Joe Friday in the police drama series Dragnet, which ran on NBC radio from 1949-1957 and television from 1951-1959 and 1967-1970. He also starred in the radio series Johnny Madero, Pier 23 (1947); Jeff Regan, Investigator (1948); and Pat Novak for Hire (1946-1947, 1949—one of this blogger’s favourite old radio shows). Mr. Webb appeared in movies such as He Walked by Night (1948); The Men (1950); Sunset Blvd. (1950); Appointment with Danger (1951); and Dragnet (1954). Mr. Webb directed many of the television episodes of Dragnet, and then began directing movies, including Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955); The D.I. (1957); —30— (1959); and The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961), all of which he appeared in. In the 1970s, Mr. Webb specialized in producing television series involving law enforcement authorities or medical personnel, such as Adam-12 (1968-1975); O’Hara: U.S. Treasury (1971-1972); and Emergency! (1972-1979). He also tried his hand as a recording artist, talking his way through a dozen romantic ballads on an album titled You’re My Girl (1958), which has to be heard to be believed. Mr. Webb was preparing another television revival of Dragnet when he died of a heart attack on December 23, 1982 at the age of 62; a lifelong admirer of police officers, he was the first—and maybe only—civilian to receive a police funeral from the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD also retired badge number 714, which had been worn by Joe Friday in Dragnet.

Gerald Bouey. Canadian civil servant. Mr. Bouey was governor of the Bank of Canada from 1973-1987, an era that included low interest rates, a low Canadian dollar, and wage and price controls. He died on February 6, 2004 at the age of 83.

Jack Stokes. U.K. animator. Mr. Stokes created and directed animation for several films and television programs, but was best known for creating the animation for the Beatles' movie Yellow Submarine (1968). He died on March 20, 2013, 13 days before his 93rd birthday.

90 years ago
1930

Died on this date
Zewditu, 53. Empress of Ethiopia, 1916-1930. Zewditu, born Askala Maryam, was the daughter of Emperor Menelik II, and acceded to the throne after her nephew Lij Iyasu was deposed. She reigned through her designated regent and relative Ras Tafari Makonnen, but often opposed his attempts at modernization. Empress Zewditu was suffering from diabetes and typhoid at the time of her death, which took place two days after the death of her husband Ras Gugsa Welle, who was killed in a battle against the now-Negus (King) Tafari Makonnen. Conspiracy theories surrounding Empress Zewditu's death abound; she was succeeded by Negus Tafari Makonnen, who reigned as Emperor Haile Selassie.

80 years ago
1940

Diplomacy
U.K. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain warned that Britain could not accept a legalistic interpretation of the rights of neutral nations, when Germany was threatening neutrals with invasion. Mr. Chamberlain said that the U.K. would enforce an economic blockade against Germany on the high seas.

Mustapha Nahas Pasha, president of the Wafd Party in Egypt, demanded that British soldiers leave the country and the U.K. government immediately settle all issues with the Egyptian government as soon as the European war ended.

Law
Police emergency measures in Brazil that had been imposed on March 25 to subdue alleged public disorder were limited.

Politics and government
In a key New York City Democratic Party primary election, supporters of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated those of Vice President John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner for seats to the Democratic National Convention in the contest for the party's 1940 nomination for President of the United States. Mr. Roosevelt also won the Wisconsin Democratic primary, while New York City District Attorney Thomas Dewey won the Wisconsin Republican Party primary.

Labour
The U.S. House of Representatives Labor Committee approved two amendments to the National Labor Relations Act: one to protect craft unions, and another to permit companies to petition for elections where two competing unions existed.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 1 @ New York Rangers 2 (OT) (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Alf Pike scored the winning goal at 15:30 of the 1st overtime period at Madison Square Garden to give the Rangers their win over the Maple Leafs, as Dave Kerr won the goaltending duel over Turk Broda.

75 years ago
1945

Hit parade
U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time--Les Brown and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Doris Day)
--Phil Moore Four
--Johnny Long and his Orchestra and Dick Robertson
2 Rum and Coca-Cola--The Andrews Sisters
--Abe Lyman and his Orchestra
--Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra
3 Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive--Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra
--Artie Shaw and his Orchestra
--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
4 I'm Beginning to See the Light--Harry James and his Orchestra
--Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra
5 A Little on the Lonely Side--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
6 Dream--The Pied Pipers
--Freddy Martin and his Orchestra
7 More and More--Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
--Perry Como
8 Candy--Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers with Paul Weston and His Orchestra
--Dinah Shore
9 Don't Fence Me In--Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
--Kate Smith
--Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights
10 Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night in the Week)--Frank Sinatra
--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra

Singles entering the chart were the version of My Dreams are Getting Better All the Time by Johnny Long and his Orchestra and Dick Robertson; There! I've Said it Again by Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Vaughn Monroe and the Norton Sisters) (#25); Stuff Like That There by Betty Hutton (#35); Carle Boogie by Frankie Carle and his Orchestra (#37); and Laura, with versions by Woody Herman and his Orchestra and Freddy Martin and his Orchestra (#38).

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

War
British and Canadian gains in both the Netherlands and Germany threatened to topple the whole German position in the region. U.S. forces cut across Okinawa to the east coast at Tobara on Awase Harbor, thus splitting the island in half. Resistance was still reported as relatively light.

Diplomacy
Diplomatic relations resumed between the U.S.S.R. and Brazil.

Politics and government
James Byrnes resigned as U.S. Direactor of War Mobilization because victory "is not far distant."

Nasrullah Entezan resigned as Iranian Foreign Minister.

Football
NFL
Frank Sinkwich of the Detroit Lions was awarded the Joe L. Carr Trophy as the National Football League's most valuable player for 1944. Mr. Sinkwich, a tailback, had rushed for 563 yards and 6 touchdowns; completed 58 of 148 passes for 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns; returned 11 punts for 148 yards and 6 kickoffs for 144 yards; punted 45 times for a 41.0 average; and kicked 24 converts and 2 field goals as the Lions won their last 5 games to finish with a 6-3-1 record, tied for second place with the Chicago Bears in the West Division, behind the Green Bay Packers.

70 years ago
1950

War
Chinese Nationalists reported killing 8,000 Communists and capturing 2,000 in defeating the biggest Communist attempt to invade Hainan Island.

Defense
The U.S. Air Force revealed that jet fighters at the Las Vegas airbase were using a radar sight (the "A-1C") that automatically solved all fire-control problems for machine guns, rockets, and dive bombing.

Politics and government
The Americans for Democratic Action, meeting in Washington, reaffirmed its "political and organizational independence" by rejecting links with "the Fair Deal elements of the Democratic Party" or "progressive elements" of the Republican Party. Former U.S. Attorney General Francis Biddle was elected to succeed Senator Hubert Humphrey (Minnesota) as ADA chairman.

Transportation
The U.S.S.R. announced the conclusion of a 10-year agreement with Communist China on joint operation of airlines from Peking (Beijing) to the Siberian cities of Alma Ata, Irkutsk, and Chita.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 1 @ New York 4 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Pentti Lund scored 3 goals and Ed Slowinski scored the winning goal on a powerplay in the 2nd period as the Rangers defeated the Canadiens at Madison Square Garden. Bert Hirschfeld scored for Montreal in the 1st period.

60 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?--Emile Ford and the Checkmates (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Marina--Rocco Granata and the International Quintet

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Banjo Boy--Jan & Kjeld (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Mirror): My Old Man's a Dustman--Lonnie Donegan (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Theme from "A Summer Place"--Percy Faith and his Orchestra (6th week at #1)
2 Baby (You’ve Got What it Takes)--Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
3 He’ll Have to Go--Jim Reeves
4 Puppy Love--Paul Anka
5 Wild One--Bobby Rydell
6 Sweet Nothin's--Brenda Lee
7 Harbor Lights--The Platters
8 Mama--Connie Francis
9 This Magic Moment--The Drifters
10 Beatnik Fly--Johnny and the Hurricanes

Singles entering the chart were The Madison by Al Brown's Tunetoppers featuring Cookie Brown (#85); The Madison Time (Part 1) by the Ray Bryant Combo (with Eddie Morrison) (#88); What am I Living For by Conway Twitty (#96); and Road Runner by Bo Diddley (#100).

Vancouver's Top 10 (CFUN)
1 Stairway to Heaven--Neil Sedaka
2 Wild One--Bobby Rydell
3 Footsteps--Steve Lawrence
4 Bad Boy--Marty Wilde
5 Angela Jones--Johnny Ferguson
6 Sixteen Reasons--Connie Stevens
7 Handy Man--Jimmy Jones
8 Step by Step--The Crests
9 Puppy Love--Paul Anka
10 Rockin' Rollin' Ocean--Hank Snow

Singles entering the chart were Stuck on You (#14)/Fame and Fortune (#45) by Elvis Presley; Luke the Spook by Sheb Wooley (#37); Train of Love (LP) by Annette (#44); You Don't Know Me by Lenny Welch (#50); A Star is Born (A Love Has Died) by Mark Dinning (#51); Cherry Pie by Skip & Flip (#52); Apple Green by June Valli (#53); Beatnik Blues by Huey "Piano" Smith & his Clowns (#54); Amigo's Guitar by Dodie Stevens (#55); Mama Don't Cry at My Wedding by Anita Carter (#56); Foot-Patter/Kissin' by the Fireballs (#57); Rockin' Charlie (Part 1) by the Bobby Peterson Quintet (#58); Paper Roses by Anita Bryant (#59); and I'll Be Back Home by Don Webb (#60).

At the movies
Twelve Hours to Kill, directed by Edward L. Cahn, and starring Nico Minardos, Barbara Eden, and Grant Richards, opened in theatres.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Detroit 4 @ Toronto 5 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Larry Regan's goal at 12:10 of the 3rd period proved to be the winner for the Maple Leafs as they held on to edge the Red Wings at Maple Leaf Gardens. Alex Delvecchio scored with 41 seconds remaining in regulation time to draw Detroit to within a goal. Allan Stanley scored Toronto goals in each of the first 2 periods.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Boston 102 @ St. Louis 86 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-1)

The Celtics outscored the Hawks 48-31 in the 2nd half before 10,612 fans at Kiel Auditorium. Tom Heinsohn of the Celtics led all scorers with 30 points, while Bob Pettit led the Hawks with 23 points.

50 years ago
1970

On television tonight
Dragnet 1970, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Robbery: The Harassing Wife



War
Israeli and Syrian planes, artillery, and tanks fought in the two countries’ heaviest air and ground battle since the Six-Day War of 1967.

A bill challenging the legality of the U.S. war in Vietnam was signed by Massachusetts Governor Francis Sargent. The bill authorized Massachusetts servicemen to refuse combat duty when Congress had not declared war.

Politics and government
Four U.S. Senators took issue with President Nixon’s assertion the previous day that Senate opposition to his nomination of Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court threatened traditional presidential powers of appointment. Mr. Nixon wrote, "It is the duty of the President to appoint and of the Senate to advise and consent." Senator Birch Bayh (Democrat--Indiana) stated that Mr. Nixon’s contention was "wrong as a matter of constitutional law, wrong as a matter of history, and wrong as a matter of public policy."

New York Mayor John Lindsay, speaking in Berkeley at the University of California’s Charter Day celebration, called on students to oppose recent legislative proposals by the Nixon administration that he called "the most significant threat to freedom from our own government in a generation."

Law
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge upset the compulsory breath test law for suspected impaired drivers; the verdict was appealed.

Medicine
The Medical Research Council of Canada and the University of Alberta started Canada's first organ transplant research group, based in Edmonton at the U of A.

Labour
The U.S. administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon and seven postal unions arrived at a wage agreement.

40 years ago
1980

Music
The Juno Awards for 1979 were presented in Toronto. Anne Murray won four Junos, including best single (I Just Fall in Love Again). Host Burton Cummings was awarded a Juno as Canada's top male vocalist.

Oil
U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Act of 1980, which was believed to be the largest single tax ever imposed on an industry. The tax was expected to bring in at least $227.3 billion in revenue over the next 10 years, and more if the price continued to increase. The legislation actually applied to price increases above the 1979 controlled levels, not to profits.

Health
Dr. George Tokuhata, director of epidemiology in the Pennsylvania Health Department, said that there had been no significant change in the infantile and perinatal death rates among people living near Three Mile Island both before and after the U.S.A.’s worst commercial nuclear accident on March 28, 1979.

Science
Three volunteers at Duke University emerged from a pressure tank after a 28-day test in which they set a world record simulating a dive to 2,232 feet beneath the sea. The mixture of breathing gases combined helium and oxygen with 10% nitrogen; the nitrogen was believed to act as a narcotic, countering the effects of the bends. Some specialists in deep-diving physiology believed that the test results could open large, previously restricted areas of the ocean floor to human activity.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 7 @ Detroit 2
Edmonton 1 Minnesota 1

Guy Lafleur scored his 50th goal of the season to help the Canadiens defeat the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.



Edmonton centre Wayne Gretzky became the first teenager to score 50 goals in a National Hockey League season, scoring the Oilers' goal in their tie with the North Stars at Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington.

30 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kiss Me Now (今すぐＫｉｓｓ　Ｍｅ)--Lindberg (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (5th week at #1)

Politics and government
The Supreme Soviet passed a law establishing the rules for secession. One would require a 2/3 approval in a referendum, and if this majority was obtained, a republic would have to wait 10 years before trying again. The parliament of Estonia declared that the law did not apply to Estonia. Lithuanian President Vytautas Landsbergis said that the timing of Lithuania’s declaration of independence was open to discussion, and he called for talks with the Soviet leadership.

Crime
Donald James Reimer was sentenced in Winnipeg to life in prison for causing the deaths of three people while driving drunk; his sentence was the toughest penalty ever for that crime, and it was to be appealed.

Environment
The Ontario Law Reform Commission recommended forcing polluters to compensate the public for damaging the environment.

25 years ago
1995

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Cotton Eye Joe--Rednex (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Austria (Ö3): Old Pop in an Oak--Rednex (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Conquest of Paradise--Vangelis (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Harvey Penick, 90. U.S. golf coach. Mr. Penick coached at the University of Texas from 1931-1963, leading the Longhorns to 21 Southwest Conference championships. His students included Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Davis Love, Jr., and Kathy Whitworth. Mr. Penick was inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame in 2002.

Hannes Alfvén, 86. Swedish physicist and engineer. Dr. Alfvén was awarded a share of the 1970 Nobel Prize in Physics "for fundamental work and discoveries in magneto-hydrodynamics with fruitful applications in different parts of plasma physics."

Terrorism
An explosion in a building in the city of Gaza killed 8 people and injured 30 others. Among the dead was a leader of the terrorist organization Hamas. The police chief for the Palestinian Authority said that members of Hamas had been making a bomb when it accidentally went off.

Labour
Two days after U.S. Federal District Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor had issued an injunction to reinstate the collective bargaining agreement that had been in place before major league baseball players had gone on strike after games of August 11, 1994, the owners accepted the players' offer to return to the field. Replacement players were either reassigned to the minor leagues or released outright.

Basketball
NCAA
Women's Championship @ Target Center, Minneapolis
Final
Connecticut 70 Tennessee 64

All-Americans Rebecca Lobo and Jen Rizzotti led the Huskies over the Volunteers as they finished the season with a 35-0 record, the best in women's Division I history to date.



20 years ago
2000

Labour
The legislature of British Columbia passed emergency legislation to end a week-long teachers’ strike and reopened the schools for 350,000 students.

10 years ago
2010

Died on this date
Chris Kanyon, 40. U.S. wrestler. Mr. Kanyon, born Christopher Klucsarits, began wrestling professionally in 1992, and worked with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1995-2004, before wrestling independently until his retirement in 2007. He suffered from bipolar disorder for years, admitting that he had attempted suicide in 2003. Mr. Kanyon came out of the closet as a sodomite in 2008, and committed suicide with an overdose of antidepressants.