December 7, 2021

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Angelina Pratt and Elena!

1,500 years ago
521

Born on this date
Columba. Irish-born cleric. Columba was a Roman Catholic missionary who founded several monasteries in Scotland, most notably the abbey on the island of Iona. He died on June 9, 597 at the age of 75. Columba is a Roman Catholic saint and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.

225 years ago
1796

Politics and government
The United States presidential election concluded with Federalist Party candidate John Adams receiving 71 electoral votes to 68 for Democratic-Republican Party candidate Thomas Jefferson. Under the rules then in place, Mr. Adams was elected President, and Mr. Jefferson was elected Vice President.

U.S. President George Washington delivered his eighth and last annual State of the Union address to Congress. Subjects included relations with Britain and Spain.

180 years ago
1841

Politics and government
U.S. President John Tyler delivered his first annual State of the Union message to Congress. Subjects included foreign relations and the economy.

130 years ago
1891

Died on this date
Arthur Blyth, 68. U.K.-born Australian politician. Sir Arthur grew up in Birmingham and moved to South Australia with his parents at the age of 16. He held various cabinet posts in South Australia, and served three terms as Premier of South Australia (1864-1865, 1871-1872, 1873-1875). Sir Arthur was appointed as South Australia's agent-general in London in 1877, and represented S.A. at the 1887 colonial conference. He died in Bournemouth, England.

125 years ago
1896

Politics and government
U.S. President Grover Cleveland delivered the fourth annual State of the Union message of his second term to Congress. Subjects included foreign relations, the economy, and defense.

110 years ago
1911

Politics and government
U.S. President William Howard Taft delivered the second part of his four-part annual State of the Union message to Congress. Part II dealt with foreign relations.

Hockey
PCHA
Brothers Lester and Frank Patrick founded the Pacific Coast Hockey Association; the original teams were the New Westminster Royals, Victoria Senators, and Vancouver Millionaires.

100 years ago
1921

Born on this date
Swami Maharaj. Indian religious leader. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, born Shantilal Patel, was initiated as a Hindu swami in 1940, and in 1950 was appointed Pramukh (president) of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a major branch of the Hindu denomination Swaminarayan Sampradaya. He built more than 1,100 Hindu temples, and oversaw the growth of BAPS into an international movement. Pramukh Swami Maharaj died on August 13, 2016 at the age of 94.

80 years ago
1941

On the radio
Jergens Journal, with Walter Winchell, on NBC

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, on NBC
Tonight's episode: Mrs. Warren's Key

On television today
Regularly scheduled programming in New York was interrupted by news of the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

War
The United Kingdom and Canada, New Zealand, and India went to war against Finland, Hungary, and Romania at 12:01 A.M. British time. The Royal Canadian Navy Flower Class corvette HMCS Windflower was rammed by the Dutch freighter Zypenberg in dense fog off the Grand Banks, while escorting convoy SC.58; Windflower sank, and 23 of her ship's company were lost. Moscow radio claimed that Soviet troops had broken though German lines at two points on the Moscow front, annihilating two divisions and recapturing a village near Kalinin. Japanese planes bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and declared war on the United States three hours later, bringing the United States into World War II (see also here). U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the entire country to be on a war footing, and in the evening conferred with his cabinet and congressional leaders on his war message; he also talked by transatlantic telephone with U.K. Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Censorship was imposed on all messages leaving the United States by radio and cable. U.S. Senator Gerald Nye (Republican--North Dakota) said that the Japanese attack was "just what Britain planned for us," and that the United States had been "doing its utmost to provoke a quarrel with Japan." Canada, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Guatemala declared war on Japan.



Labour
U.S. President Roosevelt's Coal Arbitration Board ruled that all coal mine workers must join the Congress of Industrial Organizations United Mine Workers of America as a condition of employment, thus reversing a decision of the National Defense Mediation Board. The United Brotherhood of Welders, Cutters and Helpers ordered strikers to return to work at an ordnance plant in Morgantown, West Virginia because of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. The New Jersey CIO pledged support for President Roosevelt and denounced United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis for his membership in the America First Committee.

Football
NFL
Chicago Bears (10-1) 34 @ Chicago Cardinals (3-7-1) 24
Brooklyn (7-4) 21 @ New York (8-3) 7
Philadelphia (2-8-1) 14 @ Washington (6-5) 20

75 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Rumors are Flying--Frankie Carle and his Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes (Best Seller--8th week at #1; Juke Box--7th week at #1; Airplay--7th week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--6th week at #1)

On the radio
The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Tom Conway and Nigel Bruce, on ABC
Tonight's episode: The Coptic Compass

This is Hollywood, hosted by Hedda Hopper, on CBS
Tonight's episode: The Stranger, starring Edward G. Robinson, Ruth Hussey, Roland Morris, and Gerald Mohr

Died on this date
Laurette Taylor, 63. U.S. actress. Miss Taylor, born Loretta Cooney, was best known for starring in the play (1912) and movie (1922) Peg o' My Heart, written for her by her husband, playwright J. Hartley Manners. Heavy drinking contributed to a decline in Miss Taylor's career in the late 1920s, but she made a successful comeback by playing Amanda Wingfield in the original Broadway production of The Glass Menagerie (1945), winning the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. Miss Taylor died of a coronary thrombosis.

Diplomacy
The United States told the United Nations Political and Security Committee that it would not observe a UN decision to break off diplomatic relations with Spain.

The British government postponed the reopening of the London Palestine Conference until January 1947 to allow delegates from the World Zionist Congress to attend after their forthcoming meeting.

Labour
Congress of Industrial Organizations United Mine Workers of America President John L. Lewis ended the 17-day national coal strike, claiming that the U.S. Supreme Court must be allowed to judge the union-government dispute "free from public pressure induced by the hysteria and frenzy of an economic crisis."

Disasters
A fire at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta killed 119 people; it was the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history.

Football
NCAA
The Football Writers Association of America named Notre Dame tackle George Connor as the winner of the Outland Trophy for the outstanding lineman in college football in the United States for 1946.

70 years ago
1951

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Sneak Attack, starring Zachary Scott, Barbara Joyce, and Theo Goetz



CBS presented the first surgical operation televised in colour, on a coast-to-coast closed circuit.

World events
Israeli authorities seized a cargo of ammunition bound for Egypt from a French ship in Haifa.

Diplomacy
The United Nations General Assembly voted 54-5 in favour of asking the Security Council to approve UN membership for Italy.

West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, ending a visit to London, criticized the United Kingdom's "lack of interest" in European unification, and urged the British to establish liaison offices with newly-formed European institutions.

60 years ago
1961

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade): Big Bad John--Jimmy Dean (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Tower of Strength--Frankie Vaughan

On television tonight
The Untouchables, starring Robert Stack, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Man Killer

Economics and finance
The Bank of Montreal opened a branch in Tokyo, becoming the first Canadian bank in Japan.

50 years ago
1971

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Mamy Blue--Pop-Tops (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Mamy Blue--Pop-Tops (9th week at #1)

War
Indian and Bangladeshi forces defeated Pakistani forces in the Battle of Sylhet in Bangladesh.

Politics and government
Pakistani President Yahya Khan announced the formation of a coalition government with Nurul Amin as Prime Minister and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as Deputy Prime Minister.

40 years ago
1981

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Physical--Olivia Newton-John (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Akujo--Miyuki Nakajima (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Ma Quale Idea--Pino D'Angio (11th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Polonäse Blankenese--Gottlieb Wendehals (a.k.a. Werner Böhm)

30 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Black or White--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Black or White--Michael Jackson (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Black or White--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Black or White--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Let's Talk About Sex--Salt-N-Pepa (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Qui a le droit...--Patrick Bruel

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me--George Michael/Elton John

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Kon Ik Maar Even Bij Je Zijn--Gordon (2nd week at #1)
2 Roodkapje--Pater Moeskroen
3 Let's Talk About Sex!--Salt-N-Pepa
4 Black or White--Michael Jackson
5 I Love Your Smile--Shanice
6 Over and Over Again--Robby Valentine
7 Change--Lisa Stansfield
8 James Brown is Still Alive!!--Holy Noise featuring the Global Insert Project
9 The Fly--U2
10 Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)--Rozalla

Singles entering the chart were Mysterious Ways by U2 (#24); Diamonds & Pearls by Prince & the New Power Generation (#25); Ik Vraag Aan Sinterklaas Een Heel Gelukkig Kerstfeest by Henk Temming (#31); Skat Strut by MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob (#35); and Elke Vrouw by Hanny (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Black or White--Michael Jackson
2 When a Man Loves a Woman--Michael Bolton
3 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn
4 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men
5 All 4 Love--Color Me Badd
6 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
7 Cream--Prince and the New Power Generation
8 Can't Let Go--Mariah Carey
9 That's What Love is For--Amy Grant
10 O.P.P.--Naughty by Nature

Singles entering the chart were Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana (#40); The Unforgiven by Metallica (#65); Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by George Michael/Elton John (#72); Addams Groove by MC Hammer (#84); The Comfort Zone by Vanessa Williams (#86); Diamonds & Pearls by Prince & the New Power Generation (#88); Hearts Don't Think (They Feel) by Natural Selection (#92); and In Paradise by Laissez Faire (#97). Addams Groove was the theme from the movie The Addams Family (1991).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 When a Man Loves a Woman--Michael Bolton (2nd week at #1)
2 That's What Love is For--Amy Grant
3 It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday--Boyz II Men
4 Blowing Kisses in the Wind--Paula Abdul
5 Set Adrift on Memory Bliss--P.M. Dawn
6 Set the Night to Music--Roberta Flack with Maxi Priest
7 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx
8 Street of Dreams--Nia Peeples
9 I Wonder Why--Curtis Stigers
10 No Son of Mine--Genesis

Singles entering the chart were Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by George Michael/Elton John (#65); Diamonds & Pearls by Prince & the New Power Generation (#77); Somewhere, Somebody by Aaron Neville (#86); Too Blind to See It by Kym Sims (#89); and I Love Your Smile by Shanice (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Life is a Highway--Tom Cochrane (2nd week at #1)
2 Cream--Prince and the New Power Generation
3 Can't Stop this Thing We Started--Bryan Adams
4 What About Now--Robbie Robertson
5 No Son of Mine--Genesis
6 Broken Arrow--Rod Stewart
7 When a Man Loves a Woman--Michael Bolton
8 That's What Love is For--Amy Grant
9 Get a Leg Up--John Mellencamp
10 Keep Coming Back--Richard Marx

Singles entering the chart were All 4 Love by Color Me Badd (#50); Rescued (By the Arms of Love) by Glass Tiger (#80); Convictions of the Heart by Kenny Loggins (#81); One Little Word by the Boomers (#88); The Sky is Crying by Stevie Ray Vaughan (#89); Love Don't Last Forever by Chrissey Steele (#90); Ghosts by Kerri Anderson (#91); Wildside by Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch (#93); and There Will Never Be Another Tonight by Bryan Adams (#96).

Skiing
A.J. Kitt became the first American to win a men's downhill event since the 1984 Winter Olympics when he won the first race of the 1991-92 season at Val D'Isere, France.

Football
NCAA
Navy 24 Army 3 @ Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

25 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Wannabe--Spice Girls (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): One & One--Robert Miles featuring Maria Nayler (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): It's All Coming Back to Me Now--Céline Dion (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Aïcha--Khaled (6th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Freed from Desire--Gala (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Gabbertje--Hakkûhbar

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): I Feel You--Peter Andre

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Un-Break My Heart--Toni Braxton
2 No Diggity--BLACKstreet (featuring Dr. Dre)
3 Nobody--Keith Sweat featuring Athena Cage
4 Don't Let Go (Love)--En Vogue
5 It's All Coming Back to Me Now--Celine Dion
6 Mouth--Merril Bainbridge
7 Pony--Ginuwine
8 I Finally Found Someone--Barbra Streisand/Bryan Adams
9 I'm Still in Love with You--New Edition
10 Where Do You Go--No Mercy

Singles entering the chart were I'm Not Giving You Up by Gloria Estefan (#79); I Like It by the Blackout Allstars (83); and Leavin' by the Tony Rich Project (#95).

Football
NCAA
Army 28 Navy 24 @ Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

20 years ago
2001

War
Afghanistan's Taliban regime surrendered its stronghold in Kandahar.

Economics and finance
Statistics Canada reported an unemployment increase to 7.5%, the highest level since mid-1999.

10 years ago
2011

Died on this date
Harry Morgan, 96. U.S. actor and director. Mr. Morgan, born Harry Bratsberg, had a long career as a character actor in movies, radio, and television, but was best known for portraying Officer Bill Gannon in the television series Dragnet (1967-1970) and Colonel Sherman Potter in the television series M*A*S*H (1975-1983) and AfterMASH (1983-1984).

Bob Burnett, 71. U.S. musician. Mr. Burnett was an original member of the folk group the Highwaymen, who began performing together at Wesleyan University in Ohio in 1958, and continued until 1964. Their version of Michael reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in 1961, and reached #1 in several other countries, while Cotton Fields reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 early in 1962. Mr. Burnett had a long career in law and banking.

Crime
District Attorney of Philadelphia R. Seth Williams announced that prosecutors, with the support of the family of slain police officer Daniel Faulkner, would no longer seek the death penalty for Mumia Abu-Jamal and would accept a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. On December 9, 1981, almost 30 years earlier to the day, Constable Faulkner conducted a traffic stop of Mr. Abu-Jamal's younger brother William Cook, when the confrontation turned physical. Mr. Abu-Jamal, whose taxi was parked across the street, shot Constable Faulkner in the back and then in the head; Constable Faulkner shot his assailant in the stomach before being fatally shot. Mr. Abu-Jamal was convicted in 1982 and sentenced to death, but years of appeals resulted in the sentence being commuted.

Scandal
Ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (Democrat) was sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption.