April 7, 2013

250 years ago
1763

Born on this date
Domenico Dragonetti. Italian-born U.K. musician. Mr. Dragonetti was a double bassist who moved to London in 1794 and remained there for the rest of his life. He wrote various works for double bass, and designed the Dragonetti bow. Mr. Dragonetti died on April 16, 1846, nine days after his 83rd birthday.

230 years ago
1783

Died on this date
Ignaz Holzbauer, 71. Austrian-born composer. Mr. Holzbauer was a kapellmeister at the Court Theatre of his native Vienna, and later in Stuttgart. He wrote 196 symphonies, almost 20 operas, and other orchestral works.

225 years ago
1788

Americana
Pioneers to the Northwest Territory arrived at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, establishing Marietta, Ohio as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory, and opening the westward expansion of the new country.

120 years ago
1893

Born on this date
Allen Dulles. U.S. diplomat and spymaster. Mr. Dulles, the younger brother of U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, held various diplomatic posts before joining the office of Strategic Services at the beginning of World War II. The OSS eventually became the Central Intelligence Agency, and Mr. Dulles served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (1951-1953) and Director of Central Intelligence (1953-1961). He and other CIA officials were forced to resign on November 29, 1961, amid increasing criticism of the agency's performance. Mr. Dulles served on the Warren Commission (1963-1964) that investigated the November 22, 1963 assassination of President Kennedy, and died of influenza and pneumonia on January 29, 1969 at the age of 75.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Charles Vanik. U.S. politician. Mr. Vanik, a Democrat, represented Ohio in the United States House of Representatives from 1955-1981. He was known for co-sponsoring--with Senator Henry Jackson--the Jackson-Vanik amendment in 1974, which denied normal trade relations to certain countries with command economies that restricted freedom of emigration. The amendment was particularly aimed at the Soviet bloc in order to allow refugees, especially religious minorities, to escape. Mr. Vanik died on August 30, 2007 at the age of 94.

Protest
5,000 suffragettes seeking the right to vote for women marched to the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

80 years ago
1933

Society
Prohibition in the United States was repealed for beer of no more than 3.2% alcohol by weight, eight months before the ratification of the 21st amendment to the Constitution.

75 years ago
1938

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Chicago 2 @ Toronto 5 (Best-of-five series tied 1-1)

The Black Hawks, whose regular goaltender, Mike Karakas, was injured and unable to play, had planned on using substitute Paul Goodman in game 1, but when he couldn't be found, a minor leaguer named Alfie Moore was located. He was sensational in a 3-1 win, but was ruled ineligible just two hours before the start of game 2 at Maple Leaf Gardens. Mr. Goodman, thinking that Mr. Moore was going to play, had disappeared, and was finally found in a movie theatre. He didn't have as much success as Mr. Moore.

70 years ago
1943

Died on this date
Alexandre Millerand, 84. Prime Minister of France, 1920; President of France, 1920-1924. Mr. Millerand, a Socialist, was Prime Minister of France from January-September 1920 after being appointed to the position by President Paul Deschanel. When Mr. Deschanel was forced to resign, Mr. Millerand was elevated to the presidency as a compromise candidate.

Abominations
In Terebovlia, Ukraine, Germans ordered 1,100 Jews to undress to their underwear and march through the city of Terebovlia to the nearby village of Plebanivka where they were shot dead and buried in ditches.

Politics and government
Ioannis Rallis succeeded Konstantinos Logothetopoulos as collaborationist Prime Minister of Greece during the Axis Occupation.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Detroit 4 @ Boston 0 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-0)

Football
NFL
The National Football League made the wearing of helmets by players mandatory for the 1943 season.

60 years ago
1953

Basketball
NBA
Finals
Minneapolis 90 @ New York 75 (Minneapolis led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Baseball
The Milwaukee Braves, whose franchise shift from Boston had occurred when the team was in Florida for sring training, arrived in their new home town, and were greeted by 12,000 people at the train station.

50 years ago
1963

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Chicago 4 @ Detroit 7 (Detroit won best-of-seven series 4-2)

Alex Faulkner scored the winning goal for the Red Wings as they defeated the Black Hawks at Olympia Stadium and advanced to the finals against the defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs.

WHL
Quarter-Finals
Edmonton 2 @ Seattle 3 (OT) (Seattle won best-of-three series 2-1)

Bob Barlow scored the winning goal as the Totems eliminated the Flyers at Washington State Coliseum. Doug Messier and Mr. Elik scored for Edmonton. The game was the last for the Flyers after 23 years of operation, the last 12 in the Western Hockey League as the farm team of the Detroit Red Wings.

Golf
Jack Nicklaus won the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia for the first time.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K.: Get Down--Gilbert O'Sullivan

Australia's Top 10 (Go-Set)
1 You're So Vain--Carly Simon (5th week at #1)
2 I'd Love You to Want Me--Lobo
3 Crocodile Rock--Elton John
4 Funny Face--Donna Fargo
5 Dueling Banjos--Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
6 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack
7 Separate Ways--Elvis Presley
8 Top of the World--Carpenters
9 Your Mama Don't Dance--The Bootleg Family
10 I Am Woman--Helen Reddy

Singles entering the chart were Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend by Lobo (#36); Wintersong by Country Radio (#38); and City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie (#40).

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia--Vicki Lawrence

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)--Gladys Knight and the Pips
2 Love Train--O'Jays
3 Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)--Four Tops
4 Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)--Deodato
5 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia--Vicki Lawrence
6 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack
7 Sing--Carpenters
8 Danny's Song--Anne Murray
9 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
10 Call Me (Come Back Home)--Al Green

Singles entering the chart were Daniel by Elton John (#74); It Sure Took a Long, Long Time by Lobo (#77); No More Mr. Nice Guy by Alice Cooper (#82); Everything's Been Changed by the 5th Dimension (#83); Fencewalk by Mandrill (#84); Super Fly Meets Shaft by John and Ernest (#85); I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby by Barry White (#91); The Lord Knows I'm Drinking by Cal Smith (#92); Natural High by Bloodstone (#95); Breakaway by Millie Jackson (#96); People are Changin' by Timmy Thomas (#97); And I Love You So by Perry Como (#98); Working Class Hero by Tommy Roe (#99); and Let Me Down Easy by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (#100).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack (2nd week at #1)
2 The Cover of "Rolling Stone"--Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
3 Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)--Deodato
4 Dueling Banjos--Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
5 Daddy's Home--Jermaine Jackson
6 Danny's Song--Anne Murray
7 Control of Me--Les Emmerson
8 Touch of Magic--James Leroy
9 Sing--Carpenters
10 You Don't Know What Love Is--Susan Jacks

Singles entering the chart were The Cisco Kid by War (#72); Orly by the Guess Who (#79); Can't Depend on Love by Gordon Lightfoot (#81); Gudbuy T' Jane by Slade (#83); Mama was a Rock and Roll Singer by Sonny and Cher (#84); Hearts of Stone by the Blue Ridge Rangers (#86); Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) by Gladys Knight and the Pips (#88); Superman by Donna Fargo (#90); He was Me He was You by the Bells (#94); Reeling in the Years by Steely Dan (#95); Thinking of You by Loggins and Messina (#96); I Knew Jesus by Glen Campbell (#97); Frankenstein by the Edgar Winter Group (#98); Who Was It? by Hurricane Smith (#99); and Call Me by Al Green (#100).

Calgary’s Top 10
1 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia--Vicki Lawrence
2 Little Willy--The Sweet
3 You Don't Know What Love Is--Susan Jacks
4 Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree--Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
5 Killing Me Softly with His Song--Roberta Flack
6 The Cover of "Rolling Stone"--Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
7 Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)--Deodato
8 Dead Skunk--Loudon Wainwright III
9 Sing--Carpenters
10 Wildflower--Skylark
Pick hit of the week: Walk on the Wild Side--Lou Reed

World events
Nine people aboard an international peacekeeping helicopter were killed when the helicopter was shot down by a Communist missile in South Vietnam's northern Quangtri province. Th dead included four members of the International Commission for Control and Supervision, three crewmen, and two Viet Cong liaison officers. Another helicopter, hit by small arms fire, made a safe landing.

Indian troops took over Gangtok, capital of the protectorate of Sikkim, as 15,000-20,000 demonstrators entered the city.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon sent General Alexander Haig to Indochina to study the deteriorating military situation, citing "developments" and concern over the continued presence of North Vietnamese forces in Cambodia; the level of violence in Cambodia; and continued cease-fire violations in South Vietnam. White House press secretary Ron Ziegler asserted that the move did not indicate that Mr. Nixon was considering deployment of American ground troops in Cambodia.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Montreal 5 @ Buffalo 2 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Boston 4 @ New York Rangers 2 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-1)
Chicago 5 @ St. Louis 2 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Philadelphia 0 @ Minnesota 5 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Ed Johnston was in goal for the Bruins as they beat the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Jacques Plante had played the first two games for Boston, but coach Bep Guidolin opted to use Mr. Johnston for the third game, with 35-year-old rookie Ross Brooks dressing as the backup.

Cesare Maniago earned his second shutout of the series as the North Stars blanked the Flyers at Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
East Division Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 1 @ Cleveland 7 (Cleveland led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Ottawa 3 @ New England 6 (New England led best-of-seven series 1-0)

West Division Semi-Finals
Los Angeles 4 @ Houston 2 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Basketball
NBA
Western Conference Semi-Finals
Golden State 102 Milwaukee 97 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

ABA
Eastern Division Semi-Finals
Kentucky 114 Virginia 103 (Kentucky won best-of-seven series 4-1)

Western Division Semi-Finals
Indiana 121 Denver 107 (Indiana won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Utah 97 San Diego 96 (Utah led best-of-seven series 3-0)

30 years ago
1983

Space
U.S. space shuttle Challengerastronauts Story Musgrave and Donald Peterson performed a 3 hour, 40 minute space walk to practice satellite repair work, after a communications satellite had been launched from the Challenger. It was the first space walk by Americans since the shuttle flights had begun in 1981.

Diplomacy
The Warsaw Pact foreign ministers, meeting in Prague, Czechoslovakia, proposed an East-West non-aggression pact and a halt to U.S. deployment of Pershing and Cruise missiles in Europe.

The Chinese government cancelled nine cultural exchange programs and participation in ten athletic events in the United States. China’s action applied only to events sponsored by the U.S. government, and was a response to the U.S. granting asylum to Chinese tennis star Hu Na three days earlier.

Defense
The United States Senate Budget Committee voted 17-4 to approve a 5% increase in defense spending for fiscal 1984, half of what had been requested by President Roald Reagan. Committee chairman Pete Domenici (Republican--New Mexico) rejected a greater increase in defense spending and said that a 5% increase was what teh country could afford.

Hockey
NHL
In Stanley Cup playoff action, the Edmonton Oilers took a 2-0 lead in their first round series against the Winnipeg Jets with a 4-3 win in Edmonton. The win was a controversial one, as Paul Coffey of the Oilers was credited with a goal on a shot that clearly hit the goal post and never entered the net. The Buffalo Sabres recorded their second straight shutout over the Montreal Canadiens with a 3-0 win in the second game of their series.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Always on My Mind--Pet Shop Boys (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Finland (Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland): On kesäyö/Viimeinen laulu--Topi Sorsakoski & J. Karjalainen

Defense
The arrival of U.S. Marines in Panama concluded; a total of 1,300 assumed security duties at U.S. bases.

Terrorism
About half of the hostages aboard a Kuwait Airways jet that been hijacked to Mashhad, Iran two days earlier, were released. Kuwait rejected the hijackers' demands that 17 Shiite terrorists be freed. The plane took off, and after being refused the right to land in Beirut, landed in Larnaca, Cyprus.

Politics and government
U.S. Senator Paul Simon announced the suspension of his campaign for the 1988 Democratic Party U.S. presidential nomination, two days after he received just 5% of the vote in the Wisconsin primary.

Protest
Students in Tegucigalpa, Honduras rioted in protest against the seizure by U.S. authorities of fugitive and suspected drug dealer Juan Ramon Matta two days earlier. Extradition was prohibited by the Honduran constitution. 2,000 people attacked and burned the U.S. embassy annex. Four students were shot to death, and a girl died in the fire. It wasn’t clear who fired the shots.

Hockey
Among the first round Stanley Cup playoff games played that night, the Edmonton Oilers edged the Winnipeg Jets 3-2; the St. Louis Blues defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2; and the Detroit Red Wings evened their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 1-1 with a 6-2 win at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): No Limit--2 Unlimited (7th week at #1)

10 years ago
2003

War
Organized Iraqi resistance to invading coalition forces had been wiped out, as British forces took control of Basra, the country's second-largest city. The Associated Press received a taped message reportedly by Al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden, with the speaker calling for his Islamic supporters to seek martyrdom through suicide attacks on Americans and Britons.

Abominations
Cuban courts handed stiff sentences to advocates of democratic reform. Nearly 80 people, including journalists and librarians, faced up to 27 years in prison.

Basketball
NCAA
Men's championship @ New Orleans
Final
Syracuse 81 Kansas 78

Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points as the Orangemen defeated the Jayhawks at the Louisiana Superdome to win their first championship. Mr. Anthony scored 121 points in the Final Four tournament and was named the most outstanding player.

April 6, 2013

560 years ago
1453

War
Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II began his siege of Constantinople; the city fell on May 29.

220 years ago
1793

Politics and government
During the French Revolution, the Committee of Public Safety became the executive organ of the republic.

125 years ago
1888

Died on this date
Thomas Green Clemson, 80. U.S. politician and diplomat. Mr. Clemson served as U.S. Chargé d’affaires to Belgium from 1844-1852, and as U.S. Superintendent of Agriculture in the administration of President James Buchanan from 1860-1861. He resigned his position when the Civil War began and returned to his home state of South Carolina to serve in the Confederate States army. Mr. Clemson left a legacy in his will that established the school now known as Clemson University in South Carolina.

120 years ago
1893

Religion
The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dedicated by Wilford Woodruff.

60 years ago
1953

At the movies
One Girl's Confession, written, produced, and directed by Hugo Haas, and starring Cleo Moore, Mr. Haas, and Glenn Langan, opened in theatres.



50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Walk Like a Man--The 4 Seasons

#1 single in France: Tous les Garçons et les Filles--Françoise Hardy (12th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): La terza luna--Neil Sedaka

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ich kauf' mir lieber einen Tirolerhut--Billy Mo

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): How Do You Do It--Gerry and the Pacemakers

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): He's So Fine--The Chiffons (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 He's So Fine--The Chiffons (2nd week at #1)
2 The End of the World--Skeeter Davis
3 Our Day Will Come--Ruby and the Romantics
4 South Street--The Orlons
5 Can't Get Used to Losing You--Andy Williams
6 Rhythm of the Rain--The Cascades
7 Our Winter Love--Bill Pursell
8 Baby Workout--Jackie Wilson
9 You're the Reason I'm Living--Bobby Darin
10 In Dreams--Roy Orbison

Singles entering the chart were Two Faces Have I by Lou Christie (#78); A Love She Can Count On by the Miracles (#99); The Bird's the Word by the Rivingtons (#80); I Love You Because by Al Martino (#84); Heart by Wayne Newton (#90, charting with the version by Kenny Chandler); and Shut Down by the Beach Boys (#99). Shut Down was the B-side of Surfin' U.S.A., charting at #47.

Died on this date
Otto Struve, 65. Russian-born U.S. astronomer. Dr. Struve focused his research on binary and variable stars, stellar rotation and interstellar matter. He served as director of several observatories--most notably Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin--and was an early advocate of searching for extraterrestrial life.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Block Buster--The Sweet (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Mama Loo--Les Humphries Singers (3rd week at #1)

Space
The United States launched the probe Pioneer 11, whose mission was to study the asteroid belt, solar wind and cosmic rays, the environment around Jupiter and Saturn, and the far reaches of the solar system. It was last heard from on November 30, 1995.

Protest
The Chogyal of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal, and his American-born wife, the former Hope Cooke, went into seclusion under heavy palace guard as 15,000 protesters approached Gangtok, the capital of the Indian protectorate. The disturbances were set off largely by the National Congress and State Congress parties which had accused the Chogyal of rigging recent elections in the 18-member State Council in favour of his own party.

Diplomacy
Aides close to South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu reported that he had asked U.S. President Richard Nixon for a commitment of $700 million in aid per year through 1975, with a sharp reduction thereafter.

Hockey
WHA
Avco World Trophy
West Division Semi-Finals
Minnesota 1 @ Winnipeg 3 (Winnipeg led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Bobby Hull scored 2 goals to lead the Jets past the Fighting Saints before 7,354 fans at Winnipeg Arena.

Baseball
The American League began using the designated hitter in regular season play. The first DH to come to bat was Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees, who came to bat in the first inning at Fenway Park in Boston against Red Sox' startig pitcher Luis Tiant, and drew a base on balls with the bases loaded to drive in a run. Mr. Blomberg finished 1 for 3 in the game, while Boston designated hitter Orlando Cepeda batted 0 for 6 in his first game with the Red Sox. The Red Sox won the game 15-5 as Carlton Fisk hit 2 home runs, including a grand slam, and Boston second baseman Doug Griffin made 4 hits. The Red Sox knocked New York starting pitcher Mel Stottlemyre out of the game in the 3rd inning, scoring 8 runs off him. Felipe and Matty Alou, teammates with the Yankees, combined for 5 hits off Mr. Tiant. It was the first regular season game for the Yankees since being purchased by Cleveland shipping magnate George Stgeinbrenner on January 3.

30 years ago
1983

Labour
U.S. President Ronald Reagan went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to visit a conference on the "dislocated worker" and a class of computer maintenance trainees who had been steelworkers. 4,000 protesters, many of them unemployed steelworkers, demonstrated against Mr. Reagan’s policies. Mr. Reagan said that much unemployment was structural due to changes in technology, but he promised that "smokestack industries" would not disappear.

Weather
Heavy rains, which kept up for a week, began hitting the southern United States. 14 inches fell in Hattiesburg, Mississsippi on April 6, and Governor William Winter declared a statewide emergency. In Louisiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Slidell were hard hit. The northeastern states were also hit, and the rain that fell in New York City made April 1983 one of the three wettest months ever recorded there.

Hockey
NHL
The Stanley Cup playoffs began. Television viewers in Alberta were able to watch the Edmonton Oilers open at home with a 6-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The Calgary Flames defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 in overtime, and the Buffalo Sabres edged the Montreal Canadiens 1-0.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Allt som jag känner--Tone Norum and Tommy Nilsson (8th week at #1)

Died on this date
Tirza Porat, 15. Israeli girl. According to the Israeli army, Miss Porat was accidentally shot by Israeli guards near the West Bank town of Beita. She was the first Israeli civilian to be killed in the occupied territories since the beginning of Palestinian unrest in December 1987.

Terrorism
About half of the 112 hostages aboard a Kuwait Airlines jet that had been hijacked the day before were released at Mashhad, Iran, where the plane had landed.

Politics and government
Televangelist Pat Robertson suspended his campaign, leaving VicePresident George Bush unopposed for the 1988 Republican Party nomination for President of the United States.

Crime
Suspected drug dealer Juan Ramon Matta, seized in Honduras by U.S. authorities the day before, was returned to the Marion, Illinois prison from which he’d escaped in 1971 while serving a sentence for entering the U.S. illegally.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Prince of Wales Conference
Division Semi-Finals
Hartford 3 @ Montreal 4 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Buffalo 3 @ Boston 7 (Boston led best-of-seven series 1-0)
New Jersey 3 @ New York Islanders 4 (OT) (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Philadelphia 4 @ Washington 2 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Clarence S. Campbell Conference
Division Semi-Finals
Toronto 6 @ Detroit 2 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Chicago 1 @ St. Louis 4 (St. Louis led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Los Angeles 4 @ Calgary 6 (Calgary led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Winnipeg 4 @ Edmonton 7 (Edmonton led best-of-seven series 1-0)

20 years ago
1993

Scandal
Revenue Canada revealed that investigators had found 5,000 false tax returns filed from the Toronto area in a huge fraud that cheated the government of Canada of $60 million. Investigators stressed that at least 30 tax preparers were involved in unrelated efforts that used minor infractions to try to beat the system. The investigators blamed a large part of the problem on the unlicensed nature of the field of tax return preparation and the new electronic filing system that did not require receipts.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Gerald Emmett Carter, 91. Canadian clergyman. Rev. Carter was Roman Catholic Bishop of London from 1964-1978 and Archbishop of Toronto from 1978-1990. He was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1979.

Babatunde Olatunji, 75. Nigerian-born U.S. musician. Mr. Olatunji was a drummer who moved to the United States in 1950. He performed with musicians such as John Coltrane, and recorded several albums with his own band. Mr. Olatunji died in New York City the day before his 76th birthday.

David Bloom, 39. U.S. journalist. Mr. Bloom was a reporter with the National Broadcasting Company who died of a pulmonary embolism while accompanying the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq.

War
In a friendly fire accident, 18 Kurds were killed when U.S. planes bombed a convoy of U.S. and Kurish troops in Iraq.

The United States flew Ahmed Chalabi, leader of the Iraqi National Congress (a London-base organization of groups opposed to the regime of President Saddam Hussein) and 500-700 Iraqi fighters to southern Iraq.

April 5, 2013

725 years ago
1288

Born on this date
Go-Fushimi. Emperor of Japan, 1298-1301. Go-Fushimi, also known as Fushimi II, succeeded his father Fushimi as Emperor. He abdicated in 1301, and died on May 17, 1336 at the age of 48.

425 years ago
1588

Born on this date
Thomas Hobbes. English philosopher. Mr. Hobbes’ best-known works were Leviathan (1651) and Behemoth (1680). In Leviathan, Hobbes developed his political philosophy, arguing from a mechanistic view that life is simply the motions of the organism and that man is by nature a selfishly individualistic animal at constant war with all other men. In a state of nature, men are equal in their self-seeking and live out lives which are "nasty, brutish, and short"--or maybe it was Mr. Hobbes who was "nasty, brutish, and short." According to Mr. Hobbes, fear of violent death was the principal motive which caused men to create a state by contracting to surrender their natural rights and to submit to the absolute authority of a sovereign. Mr. Hobbes died on December 4, 1679 at the age of 91.

150 years ago
1863

Born on this date
Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. U.K. royal family member. Victoria, the daughter of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Alice, was the maternal grandmother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and consort of Queen Elizabeth II. She died September 24, 1950 at the age of 87.

140 years ago
1873

Law
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania upheld an 1871 ruling of the Court of Common Pleas that a woman didn't meet the definition of "freeman" and citizen of the United States in order to vote in local elections in Philadelphia.

90 years ago
1923

Died on this date
George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, 56. U.K. Egyptologist. Lord Carnarvon financed the search for and excavation of the tomb of King Tutankhamen i Egypt's Valley of the Kings. He died 11 days after suffering a severe mosquito bite, which became infected when he cut himself shaving. Lord Carnarvon's strange death, coming shortly after he and Howard Carter had opened King Tutankhamen's tomb, helped to inspire the legend about the "Mummy's Curse," whereby a curse--especially an early death--was pronounced upon anyone disturbing a Pharaoh's tomb.

Technology
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company began production of balloon-tires.

80 years ago
1933

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Richard Gordon and Leigh Lovell, on NBC
Tonight's episode: The Voodoo Curse

Died on this date
Earl Derr Biggers, 48. U.S. novelist and playwright. Mr. Biggers, a native of Warren, Ohio, graduated from Harvard University in 1907 and was hired in 1908 by the Boston Traveler as a humour columnist, and later as drama critic. His blunt reviews offended many, and the Traveler sent him packing in 1912, allowing Mr. Biggers time to write his first novel. Seven Keys to Baldpate was published in 1913, and was an immediate success. George M. Cohan bought dramatization rights from Mr. Biggers, and Mr. Cohan’s adaptation was a Broadway hit, running for 320 performances at the Astor Theatre from September 22, 1913 to June 1914. Mr. Cohan also starred in an early film version of Seven Keys to Baldpate, which was made into movies seven times. Mr. Biggers continued his success as a novelist with Love Insurance (1914) and The Agony Column (1916). Other projects were also successful, including a war play, Inside The Lines (a collaboration with Robert Welles Ritchie), which ran 500 nights in London in 1915 and 1916. A busy season in 1919 included the plays See-Saw (an adaptation of Love Insurance) and Three’s a Crowd (a collaboration with Christopher Morley), after which Mr. Biggers decided to take a break and go on vacation with his wife to Hawaii. While in Hawaii, Mr. Biggers read a newspaper article about Chang Apana, a Hawaiian detective of Chinese descent. Mr. Biggers had never heard of an Oriental detective, and the idea for a fictional character began to take shape in his mind. Mr. Biggers wanted to promote a more positive view of Orientals than was common in books and movies at the time (such as the Fu Manchu novels), so he decided to make his character a hero and a sage. The January 24, 1925 issue of The Saturday Evening Post began running The House Without a Key, a murder mystery featuring Charlie Chan of the Honolulu Police Department. The story, published as a book later that year, was popular enough to spawn a second Charlie Chan novel. The Chinese Parrot was published in 1926, the same year that The House Without a Key was made into a movie serial. By this time Mr. Biggers and his wife had moved to Pasadena, California. Charlie Chan became such a popular character that Mr. Biggers now found it difficult to publish novels that weren’t about Charlie Chan. His last non-Chan novel, Fifty Candles, was published in 1926. The Saturday Evening Post paid Mr. Biggers $25,000 for the serialization rights to the third Charlie Chan novel, Behind That Curtain, which was published in 1928. The first two Chan novels had been made into silent movies, and had been successful enough for Fox studios to offer Mr. Biggers a handsome sum for the rights to Behind That Curtain. This novel was released as a movie in 1929; sound had come to the movies by that time, and E.L. Park became the first actor to give his voice to Charlie Chan. The fourth Charlie Chan novel, set in the Hollywood movie community of the late 1920s, was The Black Camel, published in 1929. I think this is the best of the Chan novels, but Mr. Biggers, like Arthur Conan Doyle before him, wanted to see if he could have success with something other than a story involving his most famous creation. However, the stock market crash hurt his bank account, and he decided to stick with what was working. Charlie Chan Carries On was published in 1930; in 1931 it was made into a movie, marking Warner Oland’s debut as Hollywood’s most famous Charlie Chan. The movie version of The Black Camel appeared later in 1931, with a cast that included Bela Lugosi and Robert Young. Those who haven’t read the Charlie Chan novels might be surprised to find that the characters of Number One and Number Two sons were made up for the movies. The next Charlie Chan novel, Keeper of the Keys, appeared in 1932. It was adapted for the stage by Valentine Davies. The play, starring William Harrigan as Charlie Chan, opened at the Fulton Theatre on Broadway on October 18, 1933, and closed in early November after just 23 performances. The early closing of the play may be a reason that Keeper of the Keys is the only Charlie Chan novel that hasn’t been made into a movie. Unfortunately, Earl Derr Biggers didn’t leave to see his latest novel on stage. He had been working at a pace that was injurious to his health, and died in a Pasadena hospital after suffering a heart attack in Palm Springs. He was praised for promoting a positive view of Chinese-Americans, including their role in contributing to the settling of the west coast of the United States. In 1932 he made this comment on his most famous creation: "I am quite sure that I never intended to travel the road of the mystery writer. Nor did I deliberately choose to have in the seat at my side, his life forever entangled with mine, a bland and moon-faced Chinese. Yet here I am, and with me Charlie Chan. Thank heaven he is amiable, philosophical--a good companion. For I know now that he and I must travel the rest of the journey together."

Economics and finance
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed two executive orders: 6101: to establish the Civilian Conservation Corps; and 6102: "forbidding the Hoarding of Gold Coin, Gold Bullion, and Gold Certificates" by U.S. citizens.

75 years ago
1938

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Chicago 3 @ Toronto 1 (Chicago led best-of-five series 1-0)

Shortly before the start of the game at Maple Leaf Gardens the Blackhawks announced that goaltender Mike Karakas would be unable to play because of a broken toe. National Hockey League teams didn't dress backup goalies in those days, so Blackhawks' coach and general manager Bill Stewart asked if they could use New York Rangers' goalie Dave Kerr, who was in attendance. Maple Leafs' owner Conn Smythe refused, and suggested that the Blackhawks use substitute Paul Goodman instead. Goodman couldn't be found, but someone remembered that Alfie Moore, a New York Americans farmhand, was living in Toronto. According to legend, Mr. Moore hadn't been able to get a ticket to the game, and was sitting in a pub near the Gardens waiting for the radio broadcast to begin when the Blackhawks found him. And of course, Mr. Moore played the game of his life; his sensational play sparked the Blackhawks to the win.

70 years ago
1943

War
The Bolivian Council of National Defense asked President Enrique Penaranda del Castillo to declare war on the Axis. U.S. bomber aircraft accidentally caused more than 900 civilian deaths, including 209 children, and 1300 wounded among the civilian population of the Belgian town of Mortsel; the target was the Erla factory one kilometre from the residential area that was hit. Soviet troops captured more territory in the Kuban area in their drive on the German base of Novorossiisk on the Black Sea. 10,000 Japanese troops, supported by fighter planes, launched an attack in China east of Shaokwang in Shantung Province.

Economics and finance
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau laid before the Senate a$5-billion postwar currency stabilization plan based on a gold-backed international exchange bookkeeping currency called "Unitas," worth $10.

Disasters
A famine in Honan Province affecting 3 million-7 million people was called China's worst disaster since the start of war against Japan.

60 years ago
1953

Basketball
NBA
Finals
New York 71 @ Minneapolis 73 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): From a Jack to a King--Ned Miller (5th week at #1)

Edmonton's Top 10 (CJCA)
1 Mecca--Gene Pitney
2 One Broken Heart for Sale--Elvis Presley
3 I Will Follow Him--Little Peggy March
4 Peanuts--The 4 Seasons
5 He's So Fine--The Chiffons
6 Pipeline--Chantays
7 Rhythm of the Rain--The Cascades
8 Still--Bill Anderson
9 Can't Get Used to Losing You--Andy Williams
10 Surfin' U.S.A.--Beach Boys

On television tonight
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, on CBS
Tonight's episode: An Out for Oscar, starring Henry Silva, Linda Christian, Larry Storch, and John Marley

Space
The Soviet probe Lunik 4, launched three days earlier, achieved its closest approach to the moon at 7:24 Mountain Standard Time, 8,530 kilometres (approximately 5,331 miles).

Two Black Brant II research rockets were launched from Fort Churchill, Manitoba as part of a National Research Council of Canada project to study the ionosphere, 30-300 miles above Earth.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Get Down--Gilbert O'Sullivan (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
The United States Senate voted 88-3 to bar any reconstruction aid to North Vietnam unless the President were to seek specific approval from Congress.

Politics and government
U.S. President Richard Nixon vetoed a bill to finance water and sewer systems in rural America.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Buffalo 3 @ Montreal 7 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 2-0)
New York Rangers 4 @ Boston 2 (New York led best-of-seven series 2-0)
St. Louis 0 @ Chicago 1 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-0)
Minnesota 1 @ Philadelphia 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Boston centre Phil Esposito suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Bruins' loss to the Rangers at Boston Garden. New York goaltender Ed Giacomin was also injured during the game, and was relieved by Gilles Villemure. Jacques Plante took his second straight loss in goal for the Bruins; it was the last game of his 18-year NHL career. He soon joined the Quebec Nordiques of the World Hockey Association as coach and general manager, and came out of retirement a year later to play with the Edmonton Oilers.

Tony Esposito won the goaltending duel over Jacques Caron as the Black Hawks edged the Blues at Chicago Stadium.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
West Division Semi-Finals
Los Angeles 2 @ Houston 7 (Houston led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Baltimore 97 New York 89 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Atlanta 118 @ Boston 105 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-1)

ABA
Eastern Division Semi-Finals
Carolina 136 New York 113 (Carolina won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Kentucky 108 Virginia 90 (Kentucky led best-of-seven series 3-1)

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Let's Dance--David Bowie

Died on this date
Danny Rapp, 41. U.S. musician. Mr. Rapp was the leader of the group Danny and the Juniors, whose single At the Hop reached #1 in the Billboard Top 100 for 7 weeks in early 1958. Subsequent hits for the group included Rock and Roll is Here to Stay (#19, 1958) and Twistin' U.S.A. (#27, 1960). Mr. Rapp was performing with his group at a resort in Phoenix, Arizona when he suddenly left on April 1 after a dispute with the motel manager. He was found dead in a motel room in Quartzite, Arizona, 165 miles west of Phoenix, having shot himself.

Diplomacy
Jordan's King Hussein and Palesine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat concluded three days of talks in Amman without agreeing on joint participation in U.S. President Ronald Reagan's Middle East peace plan, but agreed to meet again. Mr. Reagan's proposal contemplated a Palestinian "entity" on the West Bank that would be in "association with Jordan" and that would have limited autonomy.

France ordered 47 Soviet citizens--about 40 of them diplomats--out of the country. Those expelled included the third-ranking diplomat at the Soviet embassy and the Paris bureau chief for Tass, the official Soviet news agency. The French interior ministry said that the Soviets had been "engaged in a systematic search...for technological and scientific information, particularly in the military area."

25 years ago
1988

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

Terrorism
A Kuwait Airways jet with 112 people aboard was hijacked by Arabic-speaking gunmen, and was forced to land at Mashhad, Iran, where they released 24 female hostages and a man with a heart condition.

Defense
A force of United States Marines, ultimately numbering 1,300, began arriving in Panama to assume security duty at U.S. bases.

World events
Juan Ramon Matta, a suspected drug dealer, was seized in Honduras by U.S. authorities and taken to the United States. The U.S. believed that Mr. Matta was linked to Colombia’s Medellin cocaine cartel; he was also a suspect in the 1985 murder of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent in Mexico. The seizure of Mr. Matta provoked violent demonstrations in Honduras.

Politics and government
The contest for the Democratic party nomination for President of the United States moved to Wisconsin. Michael Dukakis won with 48% of the vote; Jesse Jackson took 28%, Al Gore 17%, and Paul Simon 5%. Vice-President George Bush won the Republican primary.

Rose Mofford, the Arizona secretary of state who had been serving serving as acting governor during the impeachment trial of Evan Mecham, was sworn in as Mr. Mecham’s successor, one day after Mr. Mecham had been removed from office after being convicted by the state Senate of obstruction of justice.

U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese announced that he had chosen John Shepherd, former president of the American Bar Association, to be the new deputy attorney general.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Germany (Media Control): All that She Wants--Ace of Base (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Divya Bharti, 19. Indian actress. Miss Bharti appeared in a number of Bollywood films in the early 1990s, and was praised as "the most interesting young actress of her generation." She died under mysterious circumstances when she fell from a five-storey apartment building in Versova Mumbai.

Crime
Four Canadian peacekeepers accused in the beating death in March of a Somali civilian at the Canadian compound in Somalia were released in Ottawa, but were not allowed to leave the armed forces base there.

Basketball
NCAA
Men's Championship @ New Orleans
Final
North Carolina 77 Michigan 71

The Tar Heels were leading the Wolverines 73-71 with 11 seconds remaining in regulation time at the Louisiana Superdome and Michigan was in possession of the ball, but Chris Webber of the Wolverines was assessed a technical foul for signalling for a time out, apparently unaware that his team had used up all of its time outs. The Tar Heels then put the game away to win their third championship and their second under head coach Dean Smith.

10 years ago
2003

War
The U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division moved through southwest Baghdad and reached the city's centre. A U.S. plane bombed a building in the Mansur neighbourhood after a report that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his two sons might be there. Allied forces bombed the Basra home of Iraqi General Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali" for launching chemical attacks on Kurds in the late 1980s. The general was believed to have died in the attacks. Iraqi troop losses were estimated to be 2,000-3,000.

Politics and government
Robert Ghiz, 29, son of former Prince Edward Island Premier Joe Ghiz, followed in his late father's footsteps by winning the leadership of the P.E.I. Liberal Party.

April 4, 2013

1,825 years ago
188

Born on this date
Caracalla. Roman emperor 198-217. Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus ruled jointly with his younger brother Geta until he ordered his murder in 211. As emperor, he was known for instigating massacres and persecutions, as well as granting citizenship to all freemen in the Roman Empire, apparently for the purposes of increasing tax revenue. He was assassinated at the age of 29 by bodyguard Julius Martialis near Carrhae while urinating at a roadside on April 8, 217.

425 years ago
1588

Died on this date
Frederick II, 53. King of Denmark and Norway, 1559-1588. Frederick succeeded his father Christian III on the throne. He unsuccessfully attempted to conquer Sweden in the Scandinavian Seven Years' War (1563-1570), which almost resulted in the loss of Norway. It was commonly believed that King Frederick drank himself to death. He was succeeded on the throne by his eldest son Christian IV.

140 years ago
1873

Britannica
The Kennel Club, the oldest and first official registry of purebred dogs in the world, was founded in London.

125 years ago
1888

Died on this date
Emma Elizabeth Smith, 45 (?). U.K. murder victim. Ms. Smith, a prostitute, was assaulted and robbed by two or three men in the impoverished Whitechapel district in the East End of London early on the morning of April 3. She was able to walk home, but then was taken to London Hospital, where it was discovered that a blunt object had been inserted into her vagina, rupturing her peritoneum. She died of peritonitis on April 4. Miss Smith's murder was the first of 11 murders of women in Whitechapel from 1888-1891 that were gathered into a single police file. Five murders later in the year were attributed to "Jack the Ripper."

120 years ago
1893

Politics and government
The Ontario Legislature building was opened in Queen's Park, Toronto. Appropriately, it was built on the site of a lunatic asylum.

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Jules Léger. Governor General of Canada, 1974-1979. Mr. Léger was a career diplomat with the Canadian Department of External Affairs before assuming the vice-regal post, succeeding Roland Michener. He carried out his duties despite suffering a stroke just six months after taking office. He was succeeded as Governor General by Ed Schreyer. Mr. Léger died on November 22, 1980 at the age of 67.

Muddy Waters. U.S. musician. Born McKinley Morganfield, Mr. Waters was known as the "father of Chicago blues," and was one of the most influential blues artists of the 20th century, inspiring such performers as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and the Rolling Stones. He died on April 30, 1983 at the age of 70.

Frances Langford. U.S. actress. Miss Langford was a singer who appeared on the radio shows of Rudy Vallee and Dick Powell in the 1930s, but is best remembered for her co-starring role in the radio comedy series The Bickersons from 1946-1951. She died on July 11, 2005 at the age of 92.

Died on this date
Emmanouil Argyropoulos, 24 (?). Greek aviator. Mr. Argyropoulos, the first Greek pilot to fly over his homeland, became the first pilot victim of the Hellenic Air Force when his plane, a captured Ottoman Blériot XI crashed from a height of 600 metres over the Langadas region near Thessaloniki during a reconnaissance mission. Also killed was Mr. Argyropoulos' passenger, athlete and poet Konstantinos Manos. The crash marked ht eend of air activity during the Balkan Wars.

90 years ago
1923

Died on this date
John Venn, 88. U.K. logician and philosopher. Mr. Venn introduced the Venn diagram, a diagram that shows all possible logical relations between a finite collection of sets, in 1880.

80 years ago
1933

Disasters
U.S. Navy airship USS Akron was wrecked off the New Jersey coast due to severe weather, killing 73 of the 76 crewmen on board. The loss of life was the greatest of any airship disaster.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Toronto 1 @ New York Rangers 5 (New York led best-of-five series 1-0)

The Maple Leafs were playing just hours after winning their semi-final series against the Boston Bruins 1-0 at home in a game that wasn't decided until 4:06 of the sixth overtime period.

70 years ago
1943

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Finals
Boston 3 @ Detroit 4 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 2-0)

60 years ago
1953

Hit Parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): I Went to Your Wedding--Patti Page; Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (2nd week at #1)

#1 singles in the U.S.A. (Billboard): The Doggie in the Window--Patti Page (Best seller--3rd week at #1; Disc Jockey--2nd week at #1); Till I Waltz Again with You--Teresa Brewer (Jukebox--6th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 The Doggie in the Window--Patti Page (3rd week at #1)
2 Till I Waltz Again with You--Teresa Brewer
3 I Believe--Frankie Laine
--[Jane Froman]
4 Your Cheatin' Heart--Joni James
5 Tell Me You're Mine--The Gaylords
6 Pretend--Nat "King" Cole
7 Wild Horses--Perry Como
8 Tell Me a Story--Jimmy Boyd and Frankie Laine
9 Gomen-Nasai (Forgive Me)--Columbia Tokyo Orchestra
10 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes--Perry Como

Singles entering the chart were Dancin' with Someone (Longin' for You) by Teresa Brewer (#28); Hush-A-Bye by Stan Kenton and his Orchestra (#31, charting with the version by Bing Crosby with Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians); and Ramona by the Gaylords (#34).

Died on this date
Rachilde, 93. French authoress and playwright. Rachilde, whose real name was a symbolist novelist, playwright, and essayist who was the most prominent woman associated with the Decadent Movement in late 19th-century France. Her works included the novels Monsieur Vénus (1884); La Marquise de Sade (1887); and La Jongleuse (1900).

Carol II, 59. King of Romania, 1930-1940. After renouncing his claim to the throne while in exile in Greece in 1925 in favour of his son Michael I, Carol returned to Romania on June 7, 1930, reneged on his renunciation, and was proclaimed King the following day. In 1938 he proclaimed his own authoritarian regime, but two years later handed over most of his power to pro-Nazi Prime Minister Ion Antonescu and abdicated in favour of Michael. Carol was exiled to Mexico, but eventually settled in Portugal.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
New York 96 @ Minneapolis 88 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Baseball
PCL
Ted Beard hit 4 home runs and drove in all his team's runs as the Hollywood Stars edged the hometown San Diego Padres 6-5.

50 years ago
1963

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Summer Holiday--Cliff Richard and the Shadows (3rd week at #1)

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 0 @ Toronto 5 (Toronto won best-of-seven series 4-1)
Detroit 4 @ Chicago 2 (Detroit led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Dave Keon scored 2 goals and an assist, and goalie Johnny Bower received a standing ovation from the 14,006 fans at Maple Leaf Gardens as the Maple Leafs eliminated the Canadiens. It was the last game in a Montreal uniform for losing goaltender Jacques Plante, who had been with the team for a decade, and had played on 6 Stanley Cup championship teams (1953; 1956-60). He was traded to the New York Rangers in the off-season.

Norm Ullman scored 2 goals and 2 assists to lead the Red Wings over the Black Hawks at Chicago Stadium.

WHL
Quarter-Finals
Edmonton 2 @ Seattle 3 (Best-of-three series tied 1-1)

40 years ago
1973

Americana
The World Trade Center in New York was officially dedicated.

War
A C-141, nicknamed the Hanoi Taxi, made its last of 54 flights of Operation Homecoming, transporting 591 American prisoners of war home from Vietnam.

Terrorism
Two young terrorists killed an Argentine army officer outside his home in Cordoba.

Politics and government
The United States Senate voted 88-6 to set a ceiling of $268 billion on federal spending in 1974. The Senate also voted 70-24 to approve the resolution of Senator Sam Ervin (Democrat--North Carolina) to forbid other presidential efforts to impound or withhold allocated funds beyond a 60-day period unless the President obtained approval by both houses of Congress. Concurrent to Sen. Ervin's resolution, the Senate voted that Congress could bar impoundment within 60 days and order the release of funds.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Quarter-Finals
Buffalo 1 @ Montreal 2 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 1-0)
New York Rangers 6 @ Boston 2 (New York led best-of-seven series 1-0)
St. Louis 1 @ Chicago 7 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 1-0)
Minnesota 3 @ Philadelphia 0 (Minnesota led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Playing the first playoff game in their three-year history, the Sabres scored first at the Montreal Forum on a goal by Craig Ramsay, but the Canadiens rallied to win.

Cesare Maniago earned the shutout as the North Stars blanked the Flyers at the Spectrum.

WHA
Avco World Trophy
East Division Semi-Finals
Philadelphia 2 @ Cleveland 3 (OT) (Cleveland led best-of-seven series 1-0)

Ron Buchanan scored at 10:16 of overtime as the Crusaders edged the Blazers at Cleveland Arena. The Blazers used rookie Yves Archambeault in goal, as regular starter Bernie Parent was refusing to play, claiming that his contract had been violated because performance bonuses hadn't been paid.

West Division
Sudden-death playoff for 4th and final playoff spot in West Division
Minnesota 4 @ Alberta 2

Mel Pearson, Wayne Connelly, Mike Antonovich, and Howie Young scored for the Fighting Saints as they built a 4-0 lead over the Oilers before 6,302 fans at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. Ron Walters and Ken Baird scored for Alberta in the 3rd period. The Oilers and Fighting Saints had finished with identical records of 38-37-3, and Alberta had apparently earned the final playoff spot under the tie-breaking format that had been adopted. Minnesota protested that they hadn't approved the format, and the protest was upheld. There was widespread suspicion that the league sided with the Fighting Saints because they would be playing home playoff games in the 15,100-seat St. Paul Civic Centre, while the Oilers would be playing their home games in the 5,200-seat Edmonton Gardens.

Basketball
NBA
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
New York 103 Baltimore 96 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-0)
Boston 123 @ Atlanta 113 (Boston led best-of-seven series 2-0)

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Up Where We Belong--Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes (2nd week at #1)

On the radio
In what might have been the only worthwhile program he ever broadcast (certainly the only good one I ever heard), Dick MacLean’s morning talk show on the Edmonton station CFRN featured Ottawa Sun columnist Lubor Zink and fellow traveller Robin Denton arguing the merits of missile deployment. Predictably, Mr. Denton parroted the Soviet line, ranting about U.S. missiles while making no mention of Soviet missiles. Mr. Zink, on the other hand, told the truth.

Died on this date
Gloria Swanson, 84. U.S. actress. The 4’ 11½" Miss Swanson began her screen career in 1915, and spent her early years as an actress in slapstick Mack Sennett comedies. She eventually took on more dramatic roles, and her salary rose accordingly, to $6,500 U.S. per week by 1923. Miss Swanson spent money as fast as she made it; it was estimated that she made $8 million in the 1920s, and spent almost all of it. Miss Swanson’s favourite of her movies was reportedly Madame Sans-Gêne (1925), which is now lost. Another one of her favourites was Beyond the Rocks (1922), her only movie with Rudolf Valentino, which was considered a lost movie until a print was discovered in a private collection in the Netherlands a few years ago. Among her notable movies were Sadie Thompson (1928) and Queen Kelly (1929). Miss Swanson made the transition to sound in the late 1920s and early 1930s, but the kind of characters she usually played went out of fashion. She acted on stage through the 1940s, then made a big comeback on screen with her most memorable role, that of faded silent star Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. (1950). According to the script, Norma Desmond was only 50 years old, but when you watch the movie, it’s hard not to get the impression that the character seems much older. If you’re wondering what movie it is that Norma Desmond is screening in Sunset Blvd., it’s Queen Kelly. Miss Swanson was nominated for the Academy Award for best actress for Sadie Thompson (1928); The Trespasser (1929); and Sunset Blvd. (1950). Her last film role was as herself in Airport 1975 (1974). As her acting roles declined in the 1950s and beyond, Miss Swanson kept busy as a clothes designer, founded Essence of Nature cosmetics, and became a prominent promoter of health foods. She also appeared occasionally as a guest on The Carol Burnett Show. Gloria Swanson was married at least six times and had numerous affairs, the most notable of which was with Joseph P. Kennedy; in fact, it was Mr. Kennedy who financed Queen Kelly.

Space
The U.S. space shuttle Challenger lifted off on its maiden voyage from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin mission STS-6. The Challenger crew of four consisted of Paul Weitz (commander); Karol Bobko (pilot); Story Musgrave (mission specialist); and Donald Peterson (mission specialist). Mr. Weitz had been aboard the first Skylab mission in 1973. The shuttle carried a 5,000-pound Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, the first of a group that was to handle communications from other space vehicles.



Protest
Four days of anti-American demonstrations in Britain, West Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands concluded. The 200,000 Commies, fellow travellers and useful idiots were opposed to deployment of U.S. Cruise and Pershing missiles. In England, demonstrators formed a chain 14 miles long between a U.S. Air Force base and an armaments factory.

World events
The United States granted political asylum to Hu Na, China's leading female tennis player, who had defected in July 1982. The U.S. Justice Department said that the Immigration and Naturalization Service had granted Hu Na's request because of her "well-grounded fear of persecution" if she returned to China. Hu said she had resisted pressure from Chinese officials to join the Communist party because she feared that she might later get caught up in a political purge.

Labour
Steelworkers at British Steel Corporation went on strike.

Basketball
NCAA
Men's Championship
Final
North Carolina State 54 Houston 52

The Wolfpack, under coach Jim Valvano, upset the Cougars. The Houston squad, nicknamed Phi Slamma Jamma, blew a 52-46 lead with three minutes to play. It was the second title for the Wolfpack; the first came in 1974.



25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): I Should Be So Lucky--Kylie Minogue (4th week at #1)

Scandal
The Arizona Senate convicted Governor Evan Mecham by a vote of 21-9 of obstructing justice, and removed him from office. It had been charged that Mr. Mecham, a fine upstanding Mormon and Republican, had sought to interfere in the investigation of a death threat by an aide to a grand jury witness. The Senate also voted 26-4 to convict Mr. Mecham of an illegal loan of $80,000 in state money to his automobile dealership.

Politics and government
Michael Dukakis won a narrow victory over Jesse Jackson in the Colorado caucus as the contest for the 1988 Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States continued.

Basketball
NCAA
Men's Championship
Final
Kansas 83 Oklahoma 79

Danny Manning grabbed 18 rebounds and scored 31 points, including the last 4 points of the game from the free-throw line in the final seconds, as the Jayhawks, under Coach Larry Brown, upset the Sooners. It was the second title for the Jayhawks; the first came under coach Phog Allen in 1952.



Baseball
Toronto Blue Jays' designated hitter George Bell became the first major league player to hit 3 home runs on opening day as the Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 at Royals Stadium. All of Mr. Bell's home runs were hit off Kansas City starting pitcher Bret Saberhagen.

Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds each hit 2 home runs and their teammamtes added 2 more homers as the New York Mets opened the season with a 10-6 win over the Montreal Expos at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Mr. Strawberry's second home run travelled 535 feet and was believed to be the longest ever hit at Olympic Stadium. The Mets' 6 homers was a single team record for opening day.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Austria (Ö3): All That She Wants--Ace of Base (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Oh Carolina--Shaggy

#1 single in the U.K.: Young at Heart--The Bluebells (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Alfred Mosher Butts, 93. U.S. architect and game creator. Mr. Butts was unemployed in the early 1930s when he invented the board game Scrabble, which combined crossword puzzles and anagrams. He eventually sold he rights to the game to James Brunot. Mr. Butts also created Alfreds Other Game, a word game which first appeared in 1985.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Bill Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin concluded two days of talks in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. Clinton pledged $1.6 billion in aid to support Mr. Yeltsin's economic reforms. The package included credits for increased food and medical assistance, with funds for industries and technical advisers.

Curling
World men's championship
Final
Canada 8 Scotland 4

The Canadian rink was skipped by Russ Howard, whose rink had previously won the world championship in 1987.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Resortes, 87. Mexican actor. Born Adalberto Martínez Chávez, Resortes was a comic actor who appeared in more than 50 movies and many television programs from the 1940s through the 1980s.

Anthony Caruso, 86. U.S. actor. Mr. Caruso appeared in character roles in many movies and television programs from 1940-1990. He died three days before his 87th birthday.

War
U.S. forces encircled Baghdad and gained control of Saddam International Airport, renaming it Baghdad International Airport. Iraqi television broadcast two tapes of President Saddam Hussein, but the dates of the tapes were unclear. Three U.S. soldiers were killed at a highway checkpoint when two Iraqi women detonated a car bomb in a suicide attack.

World events
Fishermen in Antarctic waters off the coast of New Zealand caught a squid measuring 16 feet and weighing 330 pounds. It was only the second such squid ever caught.

Terrorism
Two days after hijacking a ferry operated by the Cuban govenment, two men surrendered to Cuban authorities.

April 3, 2013

970 years ago
1043

Britannica
Edward the Confessor was crowned King of England at Winchester.

125 years ago
1888

Crime
Emma Elizabeth Smith, a prostitute, was assaulted and robbed by two or three men in the impoverished Whitechapel district in the East End of London. She was able to walk home, but then was taken to London Hospital, where it was discovered that a blunt object had been inserted into her vagina, rupturing her peritoneum. She died of peritonitis the next day. Ms. Smith's murder was the first of 11 murders of women in Whitechapel from 1888-1891 that were gathered into a single police file. Five murders later in the year were attributed to "Jack the Ripper."

100 years ago
1913

Born on this date
Per Borten. Prime Minister of Norway, 1965-1971. Mr. Borten was a member of the Norwegian Storting (Parliament) from 1949-1977. As leader of the Centre Party he led a four-party coalition government. Mr. Borten served as President of the Odelsting (lower house) from 1961-1965 and 1973-1977. He was an outspoken opponent of Norwegian membership in the European Union. Mr. Borten died on January 20, 2005 at the age of 91.

80 years ago
1933

Aviation
Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, Lord Clydesdale, was chief pilot on the first flight over Mount Everest, flying a Westland PV-3 biplane. The problems endured by the crews at the altitude of over 29,000 feet helped to demonstrate the need for pressurized cabins at high altitudes.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Boston 0 @ Toronto 1 (6 OT) (Toronto won best-of-five series 3-2)

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins ended one of the most gruelling series in Stanley Cup history at Maple Leaf Gardens. The best-of-five semi-final was tied at 2 games apiece, with the winner having to open the Stanley Cup finals the next night in New York against the Rangers. Three of the first four games had gone to overtime. After three periods of regulation play and five periods of overtime, the score stood at 0-0. That's 160 minutes of hockey, and several hours of real time. The two teams were so exhausted that a number of suggestions to decide the outcome wer made, including removing the goalies, reducing the number of players on the ice, calling the game and starting over the next night, or tossing a coin. The players approved the coin toss, but the remaining fans howled in protest when the teams assembled at centre ice. The game resumed; Andy Blair of the Maple Leafs intercepted an Eddie Shore pass, and passed to little-used Ken Doraty, who went in and snapped the puck past Tiny Thompson in the Boston goal. The winning tally came at 4:46 of the sixth overtime period. To this day, the only NHL game to last longer is the playoff game between the Montreal Maroons and Detroit Red Wings in 1936, which ended at 16:30 of the sixth overtime period.

70 years ago
1943

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): I've Heard That Song Before--Harry James and his Music Makers with Helen Forrest (5th week at #1)

Died on this date
Conrad Veidt, 50. German actor. Mr. Veidt achieved fame as the star of the expressionistic silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), and made several movies in Hollywood, most notably in The Man Who Laughs (1928). An opponent of the Nazi regime in Germany, Mr. Veidt married a Jewish woman in 1933 and quickly fled to the United Kingdom, where he appeared in such movies as Spy in Black (1939); Contraband (1940); and The Thief of Bagdad (1940). He moved to the United States, where he ended up being cast as Nazis in such movies as All Through the Night (1942); Nazi Agent (1942), and, most memorably, Casablanca (1942). Mr. Veidt died of a heart attack while playing golf at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

60 years ago
1953

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): She Wears Red Feathers--Guy Mitchell (4th week at #1)

On television tonight
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Past Tense, starring Boris Karloff, John McGovern, Katherine Meskill, Allen Nourse, and Robert F. Simon



At the movies
Stolen Identity, an English-language version of Abenteuer in Wien (Adventure in Vienna) (1952), directed by Gunther von Fritsch, and starring Donald Buka, John Camden, and Francis Lederer, opened in theatres in Los Angeles.



50 years ago
1963

At the movies
It Happened at the World's Fair, directed by Norman Taurog, and starring Elvis Presley, Joan O'Brien,a nd Gary Lockwood, opened in theatres.



Space
The United States launched the satellite Explorer 17, whose mission was to conduct measurements of density, pressure, temperature, and composition of Earth's atmosphere.

Hockey
WHL
Quarter-Finals
Seattle 3 @ Edmonton 5 (Edmonton led best-of-three series 1-0)

Mr. Elik scored 3 goals for the Flyers in their win over the Totems at Edmonton Gardens.

40 years ago
1973

Diplomacy
U.S. President Richard Nixon and South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu ended a friendly two-day meeting at San Clemente, California with a promise to Mr. Thieu to continue U.S. economic aid to South Vietnam, but no specific pledge of American intervention if South Vietnam should be imperilled. The joint communique expressed "full consensus" and a promise to work "scrupulously" to carry out provisions of the recent Paris peace accords. Mr. Nixon agreed in te communique that South Vietnam would need more exernal economic aid for the remainder of the year, but made clear that future assistance would be dependent on the approval of the United States Congress.

Politics and government
The United States Senate voted 60-36 to sustain President Richard Nixon's veto of a bill to supply vocational aid to the disabled. Mr. Nixon, who had vetoed the bill on March 27, called it excessively costly and said the bill diverted vocational rehabilitation from the original goals of training the employable.

Technology
Marty Cooper of Motorola called his competitor at Bell Laboratories to let him know that this was the first call made from a cell phone, which Mr. Cooper had just succeeded in inventing.

Disasters
A dozen people died and 10 were severely injured when a landslide struck the Peruvian vilage of Huatun.

30 years ago
1983

Football
USFL
Among the games that day, the Philadelphia Stars routed the Washington Federals 34-3 on the national ABC telecast; the Los Angeles Express edged the Oakland Invaders 10-7.

Hockey
NHL
Among the games on the last day of the regular season were a 4-4 tie between the Montreal Canadiens and the league-leading Boston Bruins, and a 3-3 tie between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): One Tree Hill--U2 (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Milton Caniff, 81. U.S. cartoonist. Mr. Caniff created the adventure comic strips Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon. He produced Terry and the Pirates from 1934-1946, but left that strip because he didn’t own the rights to it. When he was offered ownership of his own strip, he created Steve Canyon, which began running in January 1947, the month after he’d finished his association with Terry and the Pirates. Mr. Caniff produced the Steve Canyon strip until his death. Other comic strips produced by Mr. Caniff include: Mister Gilfeather (1932-1933); The Gay Thirties (1933-1934); Dickie Dare (1933-1934) and Male Call (1943-1946). Mr. Caniff was one of the founders of the National Cartoonists Society, and served as its president in 1948 and 1949. He was honoured with the Reuben award as the nation’s top cartoonist in 1947 and 1972, and was named to the Society’s Hall of Fame in 1981. The Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award is named in his honour.

Diplomacy
U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz travelled to the Middle East in an attempt to persuade the leaders of Israel and Jordan to begin direct negotiations toward Middle East peace.

Hockey
NHL
Montreal 4 Buffalo 4
New Jersey 4 Chicago 3 (OT)

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): Are You Gonna Go My Way--Lenny Kravitz

#1 single in Italy: Sei un Mito--883

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): I Feel You--Depeche Mode (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): No Limit--2 Unlimited (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Alison--Jordy (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): No Limit--2 Unlimited (5th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (Chart Information Network): Young at Heart--The Bluebells

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Informer--Snow (4th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Informer--Snow (2nd week at #1)
2 I Have Nothing--Whitney Houston
3 Nothin' But a "G" Thang--Dr. Dre
4 Don't Walk Away--Jade
5 Ordinary World--Duran Duran
6 Bed of Roses--Bon Jovi
7 I'm Every Woman--Whitney Houston
8 Two Princes--Spin Doctors
9 A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)--Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
10 7--Prince and the New Power Generation

Singles entering the chart were Dedicated by R. Kelly and Public Announcement (#54); Who is It by Michael Jackson (#57); Love Don't Love You by En Vogue (#61); Funky Child by Lords of the Underground (#72); So Close by Dina Carroll (#79); Connected by Stereo MC's (#84); and I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me) by Exposé (#93).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Ordinary World--Duran Duran (5th week at #1)
2 If I Ever Lose My Faith in You--Sting
3 Man on the Moon--R.E.M.
4 Bed of Roses--Bon Jovi
5 Simple Life--Elton John
6 That's What Love Can Do--Boy Krazy
7 Two Princes--Spin Doctors
8 Angel--Jon Secada
9 Hope of Deliverance--Paul McCartney
10 Beautiful Girl--INXS

Singles entering the chart included Who is It by Michael Jackson (#67); Hip Hip Hooray by Naughty by Nature (#81); Easy by Faith No More (#91); and One Last Kiss by Sofia Shinas (#93).

Died on this date
Pinky Lee, 85. U.S. television host. Mr. Lee, born Pincus Leff, was a burlesque comic who became famous as host of the daily children's television program The Pinky Lee Show (1954-1956). He collapsed on the air from exhaustion and a severe sinus attack in 1955, and was forced to take a hiatus as the supporting cast carried on the show without him for several months. Mr. Lee eventually recovered his health, but was unable to re-establish a lasting presence in television.

Sham, 22. U.S. racehorse. Sham finished second in the 1973 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and probably would have won both races if he hadn't had the misfortune to run against Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown. Although non-winning times weren't recorded, it was believed that Sham's time in the Kentucky Derby was at least as fast as the previous record of exactly 2 minutes set by Northern Dancer in 1964. Secretariat's time of 1:59 2/5 remains the Kentucky Derby record. Sham died six days before his 23rd birthday.

Diplomacy
U.S. President Billl Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin began a two-day summit in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Horse racing
England's Grand National Steeplechase was declared void after 30 of the 39 riders failed to realize a false start had been declared and started around the course.

Basketball
NCAA
Women's Championship
Final @ Atlanta
Texas Tech 84 Ohio State 82

Sheryl Swoopes scored 47 points, a record for one person in either a men's or women's national championship game, to lead the Red Raiders over the Buckeyes at the Omni.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Michael Kelly, 46. U.S. journalist. Mr. Kelly was a reporter with The New York Times, a columnist with The New Yorker and the Washington Post, and an editor with The New Republic, National Journal, and The Atlantic. While covering the U.S. invasion of Iraq, he was riding in a Humvee with U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Wilbert Davis when the vehicle was shot at by Iraqi soldiers, veered off an embankment, and landed in a canal below, killing both men. Mr. Kelly became the first American journalist to be officially killed in action in the Iraq War.

War
U.S. Marines, meeting some resistance, crossed the Tigris River and moved to within 25 miles of Baghdad. Most of Baghdad had lost electrical power.

United Nations officials, based on reports by witnesses, said that at least 966 people had been killed in a dozen Congolese villages in an area rich with minerals. The attacking force was unknown; various factions had been fighting in the region. The UN estimate of the dead was later lowered to 150-350.

Health
Chinese Health Minister Zhang Wenkang claimed that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China was under control.

April 2, 2013

500 years ago
1513

Exploration
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed in what is now Florida.

225 years ago
1788

Born on this date
Rama III. King of Siam, 1824-1851. Rama III aka Nangklao acceded to the throne upon the death his father Rama II despite being the son of a concubine rather than of a queen. The establishment of Siam's military hegemony occurred during his reign. King Rama III died on April 2, 1851, two days after his 63rd birthday; he fathered 51 children but hadn't raised any of his consorts to the position of queen, and the throne passed to his half-brother Prince Mongkut, who became King Rama IV.

150 years ago
1863

Protest
Food shortages incited hundreds of angry women to riot in Richmond, Virginia and demand that the Confederate government release emergency supplies.

140 years ago
1873

Scandal
In the Canadian House of Commons, Liberal MP Lucius Seth Huntington charged that Canadian Pacific railway executives Hugh Allan and G.W. McMullen gave funds to the Conservative government of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald in return for a CPR charter. A non-confidence motion was defeated 107 to 76.

60 years ago
1953

On the radio
Tales of Tomorrow, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Morrow on Mars

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Boston 4 @ Detroit 6 (Boston led best-of-seven series 3-2)
Chicago 4 @ Montreal 2 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Two goals in a 55-second span saved the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings from elimination against the Bruins at Olympia Stadium.

Al Rollins won the goaltending duel over Gerry McNeil as the Black Hawks beat the Canadiens at the Montreal Forum for their third straight win.

50 years ago
1963

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

Space
The U.S/S.R. launched the probe Lunik 4 toward the moon.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Toronto 1 @ Montreal 3 (Toronto led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Chicago 1 @ Detroit 4 (Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Henri Richard led the Canadiens past the Maple Leafs at the Montreal Forum.

Bobby Hull, playing with a broken bone in his cheek, scored the only Chicago goal as the Black Hawks lost to the Red Wings at Olympia Stadium.

40 years ago
1973

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): You're So Vain--Carly Simon (7th week at #1)

#1 single in France: Rien qu'une larme--Mike Brant

Terrorism
Argentine terrorists kidnapped a U.S. business executive and a retired Argentine rear admiral in Buenos Aires.

Scandal
Stanley Goldbaum, president of Equity Funding Corporation of America, resigned, the day The Wall Street Journal revealed accusations against the corporation of engaging in a multimillion dollar fraud involving 56,000 bogus insurance policies, forged bonds and death certificates, and $120 million in non-existent assets. According to the report, Equity Funding, a leader in insurance and mutual funds which had handled $6.5 billion in life insurance by the end of 1972, had created a plan to affect the appearance of a profitable organizaton, thereby inflate its own value, and eventlually buy a reputable insurance company.

Politics and government
The progressive Liberal Movement broke away from the more conservative Liberal and Country League in South Australia to become a party on its own.

Technology
The LexisNexis computerized legal research service was launched.

Disasters
At least 10 people died, 4 in the Netherlands, when a hurricane struck western Europe.

30 years ago
1983

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Chante--Les Forbans (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Total Eclipse of the Heart--Bonnie Tyler (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K.: Is There Something I Should Know?--Duran Duran (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Billie Jean--Michael Jackson (5th week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Billie Jean--Michael Jackson (4th week at #1)
2 You Are--Lionel Richie
3 Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club
4 Hungry Like the Wolf--Duran Duran
5 Back on the Chain Gang--Pretenders
6 One on One--Daryl Hall & John Oates
7 Mr. Roboto--Styx
8 Come On Eileen--Dexys Midnight Runners & the Emerald Express
9 Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)--Journey
10 Jeopardy--Greg Kihn Band

Singles entering the chart were Flashdance...What a Feeling by Irene Cara (#76); Gimme All Your Lovin' by ZZ Top (#83); Try Again by Champaign (#84); Wind Him Up by Saga (#86); Love's Got a Line on You by Scandal (#87); New Year's Day by U2 (#89); Why Me? by Planet P (#90); and Der Kommissar by Falco (#95).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Billie Jean--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 Hungry Like the Wolf--Duran Duran
3 Do You Really Want to Hurt Me--Culture Club
4 Mr. Roboto--Styx
5 You Are--Lionel Richie
6 We've Got Tonight--Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton
7 One on One--Daryl Hall & John Oates
8 Back on the Chain Gang--Pretenders
9 Sexual Healing--Marvin Gaye
10 Shy Boy--Bananarama

Singles entering the chart were Lies by the Thompson Twins (#44); Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo (#47); and Rio by Duran Duran (#49).

Diplomacy
Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko rejected U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s offer of an interim solution on intermediate-range missiles in Europe, arguing that Mr. Reagan hadn’t included British and French nuclear weapons in his proposal.

Spain expelled a Soviet diplomat whom they accused of espionage.

King Hussein of Jordan and Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat began three days of talks in Amman.

25 years ago
1988

Hit parade
#1 single in France: Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You--Glenn Medeiros (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy: Perdere l'Amore--Massimo Ranieri (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland (IRMA): Could've Been--Tiffany

#1 single in the U.K.: Don't Turn Around--Aswad (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
3 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean
4 Endless Summer Nights--Richard Marx
5 Out of the Blue--Debbie Gibson
6 I Want Her--Keith Sweat
7 Rocket 2 U--The Jets
8 Father Figure--George Michael
9 Devil Inside--INXS
10 Where Do Broken Hearts Go--Whitney Houston

Singles entering the chart were Nightime by Pretty Poison (#81); I Still Believe by Brenda K. Starr (#84); Presence of Love by Alarm (#86); Beds are Burning by Midnight Oil (#87); Kiss Me Deadly by Lita Ford (#88); Promise Me by Cover Girls (#89); and Jack the Lad by 3 Man Island (#90).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley (3rd week at #1)
2 Father Figure--George Michael
3 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean
4 I Get Weak--Belinda Carlisle
5 Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson
6 Pump Up the Volume--M/A/R/R/S
7 She's Like the Wind--Patrick Swayze (featuring Wendy Fraser)
8 Just Like Paradise--David Lee Roth
9 Endless Summer Nights--Richard Marx
10 Check it Out--John Cougar Mellencamp

Singles entering the chart were I'm Still Searching by Glass Tiger (#77); Anything for You by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine (#80); Beds are Burning by Midnight Oil (#84); Pink Cadillac by Natalie Cole (#86); Always on My Mind by Pet Shop Boys (#89); Love Changes Everything by Honeymoon Suite (#92); Somewhere Down the Crazy River by Robbie Robertson (#95); I Wish I Had a Girl by Henry Lee Summer (#96); and Heatseeker by AC/DC (#97).

Canada's Top 8 (The Record)
1 Pump Up the Volume--M/A/R/R/S
2 Never Gonna Give You Up--Rick Astley
3 Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car--Billy Ocean
4 Father Figure--George Michael
5 She's Like the Wind--Patrick Swayze (featuring Wendy Fraser)
6 Man in the Mirror--Michael Jackson
7 Just Like Paradise--David Lee Roth
8 I Get Weak--Belinda Carlisle

Died on this date
Vernon W. Thomson, 82. U.S. politician. Mr. Thomson, a Republican, was Governor of Wisconsin from 1957-1959. He defeated William Proxmire in the 1956 gubernatorial election, but lost to Gaylord Nelson in 1958. Mr. Thomson was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1960, and sat there from 1961-1975. He was one of many Republicans to go down to defeat in the anti-Watergate backlash of 1974.

Politics and government
The contest for the 1988 U.S. presidential nominations moved to the Virgin Islands, with Jesse Jackson winning the Democratic party caucus.

In El Salvador, the Central Electoral Council announced the official results of the March 20 national election. The National Republican Alliance (ARENA) was given 30 seats in the 60-seat Assembly, one less than a majority. 23 seats went to the Christian Democratic Party, and 7 to the National Conciliation Party.

Hockey
NHL
Detroit 3 @ Toronto 5
At Maple Leaf Gardens, the Maple Leafs came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Red Wings in their final regular season game of the 1987-88 season. The win put them one point ahead of the Minnesota North Stars for the final playoff spot.

20 years ago
1993

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: In the Still of the Night--Boys II Men (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Germany (Media Control): All That She Wants--Ace of Base (5th week at #1)

Diplomacy
Bosnian Serbs rejected a set of peace proposals that had been approved by Croats and Muslims.

10 years ago
2003

Died on this date
Edwin Starr, 61. U.S. singer. Mr. Starr, born Charles Edwin Hatcher, recorded the hit single Agent Double-O-Soul for the small Ric-Tic label in 1965, which reached #21 on the Bilboard Hot 100 singles chart and #8 on the rhythm and blues chart. When the Motown corporation absorbed Ric-Tic in 1968, Mr. Starr began recording for Motown and had major hits with Twenty-Five Miles (#6 R&B, #6 Pop, 1969) and War (#1 Pop, #3 R&B, 1970). He eventually moved to England, where he died of a heart attack.

War
The U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division and U.S. 1st Marine Division closed to within 30 miles of Baghdad. Air assaults had reportedly reduced the Iraqi divisions defending Baghdad by 50%. Iraqi ground fire downed a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter, killing seven crew members. Turkey agreed to let the United States transport food and non-military supplies through its territory.

Terrorism
16 people were killed when a bomb was detonated near a ferry terminal in Davao, Philippines. Officials blamed the Muslim separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Health
The World Health Organization advised travellers to avoid Hong Kong and China's Guangdong province, where Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) had apparently originated.