December 1, 2009

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, Woody Allen!

300 years ago
1709

Born on this date
Franz Xaver Richter, 79. Moravian-born Austrian composer and conductor. Mr. Richter was a violinist who wrote symphonies, concertos for woodwinds and trumpet, chamber music, and church music. He is regarded as a transitional composer between the Baroque and Classical eras. Mr. Richter died on September 12, 1789 at the age of 79.

130 years ago
1879

Politics and government
U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes delivered his State of the Union message to Congress.

90 years ago
1919

Radio
The Montreal station XWA was granted the first broadcasting license in North America.

Politics and government
Alexandru Vaida-Voevod, leader of the Romanian National Party, took office as Prime Minister of Romania.

Abominations
Three days after being elected in the riding of Plymouth Sutton, Lady Astor became the first female Member of Parliament to take her seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

80 years ago
1929

Football
NFL
Chicago Cardinals (5-6-1) 21 @ New York (10-1-1) 24
Staten Island (3-4-3) 0 @ Orange (2-3-4) 3
Green Bay (11-0-1) 25 @ Providence (4-6-2) 0
Frankford (9-2-5) 0 @ Chicago Bears (4-7-2) 0

70 years ago
1939

War
The first naval battle of the Winter War took place near the island of Russarö, 5 kilometres (3 mi) south of Hanko, Finland. Finnish guns damaged the Soviet cruiser Kirov, which suffered casualties totalling 17 dead and 30 wounded.

Politics and government
The day after Soviet forces invaded Finland to start the Winter War, the U.S.S.R. formed a puppet government intended to rule Finland once the war was over. Called the Finnish Democratic Republic, it was headed by O. W. Kuusinen. The government was also called "The Terijoki Government," named after the village of Terijoki, the first place captured by the advancing Soviet army.

60 years ago
1949

On the radio
Suspense, on CBS
Tonight's episode: Mission Completed, starring James Stewart

World events
10 Soviet citizens, former anti-Communist refugees, went on trial in Yugoslavia on charges of spying for the U.S.S.R.

Defense
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee member H. Alexander Smith (Republican--New Jersey), returning from a trip to the Far East, demanded the occupation of Taiwan by U.S. forces in order to save the island from Communist invasion.

Politics and government
The West German government formally applied for membership in the International Ruhr Authority.

The Brazilian government forbade meetings by Communist and Communist front groups.

Economics and finance
Western European countries agreed to reduce their Western Hemisphere food imports by $1.25 billion by 1956.

Labour
The U.S. National Conference on Labor Legislation ended a three-day meeting in Washington after calling for the repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act and urging a $1 hourly minimum wage.

The Congress of Industrial Organizations International Union of Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers completed a four-day founding convention in Philadelphia after adopting a provisional constitution barring Communists from union office and hearing messages of support from U.S. President Harry Truman and Labor Secretary Maurice Tobin. The new union claimed the support of more than half the membership of the old United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers union.

50 years ago
1959

On television tonight
Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, hosted by John Newland, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Dead Ringer, starring Norma Crane, Grant Williams, and Ed Prentiss



Diplomacy
Representatives of the U.S.A., U.S.S.R., U.K., Australia, Argentina, Belgium, China, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, and South Africa signed the Antarctic Treaty in Washington, setting aside the entire area of Antarctica as a scientific preserve free from military activities.

The United Kingdom and United Arab Republic formally resumed relations, three years after the Suez crisis.

The U.K. and U.S.S.R. signed an agreement in London establishing a cultural exchange program.

Politics and government
Queen Elizabeth II approved Yusuf Bin Ishak as Singapore's first Malaysian-born chief of state.

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave Deputy Defense Secretary Thomas Gates, Jr. a recess appointment as Defense Secretary.

Labour
The International Longshoremen's Union and U.S. East Coast waterfront employers reached an agreement in New York on three-year contracts that would avert a resumption of the strike currently suspended by a Taft-Hartley Act injunction.

Boxing
Nino Valdes (48-18-3) scored a technical knockout of Brian London (22-6) in a heavyweight bout at Empire Pool, Wembley, London when the fight was stopped after the 7th round because of a cut over Mr. London's left eye. It turned out to be the last fight for Mr. Valdes, who was forced into retirement several months later when an examination revealed a cataract in his left eye.



40 years ago
1969

Hit parade
#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Kuroneko no Tango--Osamu Minagawa (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Sugar, Sugar--The Archies (3rd week at #1)

On the radio
The Challenge of Space, on Springbok Radio
Tonight's episode: Another Galaxy

On television tonight
The Joe Namath Show

New York Knickerbockers' basketball star Dave DeBusschere and Frank Beard, leading money-winner on the Professional Golfers Association tour in 1969, were the guests on this episode of Mr. Namath's local New York talk show.



War
The first draft lottery in the United States since 1942 was held at Selective Service headquarters in Washington. Every young man who was at least 19 by December 31, 1969 had his draft priority set by the drawing, both for the year and/or later. The random drawing was from a goldfish bowl holding all 366 calendar dates and the 26 letters of the alphabet. The alphabet determined the order of selection of those born on the specific date drawn. September 14 was the first date drawn, meaning those born on that date would be the first ones called for selective service in 1970. All present deferments were to be continued.

Crime
Los Angeles police said that the Sharon Tate murder case had been solved. A man and a woman were in custody, and another woman was sought. All three were described as nomads living in a commune near Miss Tate’s home.

George Sams, Jr. pled guilty in New Haven to second degree murder in the torture slaying of fellow Black Panther Alex Rackley of New York, an alleged police informer. Mr. Sams, one of 14 defendants, told police he was ordered by Bobby Seale, Black Panther national chairman, in Berkeley, California, to participate in a purge of Black Panther chapters in the eastern U.S.A. Legal moves for the extradition of Mr. Seale to Connecticut were being held up pending his trial with seven others in Chicago on charges of inciting to riot during the 1968 Democratic national Convention.

Scandal
Former U.S. Senator Daniel Brewster (Democrat--Maryland) was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of having accepted money from the mail order firm Spiegel, Inc. to influence his votes on postal rate legislation.

Economics and finance
As a conference of leaders of the European Economic Community opened in The Hague, French President Georges Pompidou warned that the Common Market might be weakened if Britain were allowed to join.

Labour
The largest teachers’ strike in British history began when 4,500 teachers walked out at 300 selected schools for two weeks over salary demands.

30 years ago
1979

Hit parade
#1 single in Zimbabwe Rhodesia (Lyons Maid): I Don't Like Mondays--The Boomtown Rats (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (Hit Parade Italia): Remi, Le Sue Avventure--Ragazzi Di Remi (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Ireland: When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman--Dr. Hook (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman--Dr. Hook (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen (2nd week at #1)
2 Weekend--Earth and Fire
3 We Got the Whole World in Our Hands--Nottingham Forest with Paper Lace
4 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A man after midnight)--ABBA
5 We Belong to the Night--Ellen Foley
6 Get Up and Boogie--Freddie James
7 Ooh, Yes I Do--Luv'
8 She's in Love with You--Suzi Quatro
9 Knock on Wood--Amii Stewart
10 It's All in the Bible--Snoopy

Singles entering the chart were Love and Understanding by Mac Kissoon and Family (#18); Gonna Get Along Without You Now by Viola Wills (#21); Quiereme by Julio Iglesias (#27); Rollerskating by Dolly Dots (#28); Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney (#37); Asfalt-Rocker by Henk Wijngaard (#38); and You Treated Me Wrong by Maywood (#39).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 No More Tears/Enough is Enough--Barbra Streisand/Donna Summer (2nd week at #1)
2 Babe--Styx
3 Still--Commodores
4 Please Don't Go--KC and the Sunshine Band
5 Heartache Tonight--Eagles
6 Escape (The Pina Colada Song)--Rupert Holmes
7 Send One Your Love--Stevie Wonder
8 Dim All the Lights--Donna Summer
9 Ships--Barry Manilow
10 Pop Muzik--M

Singles entering the chart were Romeo's Tune by Steve Forbert (#84); I Do Believe in You by the Pages (#89); and Money by the Flying Lizards (#90).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Babe--Styx (2nd week at #1)
2 No More Tears/Enough is Enough--Barbra Streisand/Donna Summer
3 Still--Commodores
4 Heartache Tonight--Eagles
5 Please Don't Go--KC and the Sunshine Band
6 Escape (The Pina Colada Song)--Rupert Holmes
7 Dim All the Lights--Donna Summer
8 Ladies Night--Kool & The Gang
9 You're Only Lonely--J.D. Souther
10 Send One Your Love--Stevie Wonder

Singles entering the chart were The Long Run by the Eagles (#57); Forever Mine by the O'Jays (#79); Romeo's Tune by Steve Forbert (#80); Voices by Cheap Trick (#83); Last Train to London by Electric Light Orchestra (#84); Lonely Eyes by Robert John (#86); Move Your Boogie Body by the Bar-Kays (#89); Mistrusted Love by Mistress (#90); An American Dream by the Dirt Band (#97); and You're Gonna Get What's Coming by Bonnie Raitt (#98).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Babe--Styx
2 Heartache Tonight--Eagles
3 Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough--Michael Jackson
4 Lead Me On--Maxine Nightingale
5 Tusk--Fleetwood Mac
6 Rise--Herb Alpert
7 Good Girls Don't--The Knack
8 Dreaming--Blondie
9 Pop Muzik--M
10 Take the Long Way Home--Supertramp

Singles entering the chart were Say Hello by April Wine (#87); Half the Way by Crystal Gayle (#88); Head Games by Foreigner (#92); If You Remember Me by Chris Thompson (#96); I'd Rather Leave When I'm in Love by Rita Coolidge (#97); Pretty Girls by Melissa Manchester (#98); Rebound by Cano (#99); and Ladies Night by Kool & The Gang (#100).

Terrorism
The student terrorists holding the hostages captive at the U.S. embassy in Iran charged two of the captive diplomats with being undercover operatives for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, based on a State Department cable that they said they had found in the embassy.

Hockey
NHL
Philadelphia 4 @ Toronto 4
Hartford 4 @ Montreal 4



20 years ago
1989

Hit parade
#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Another Day in Paradise--Phil Collins

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Girl I'm Gonna Miss You--Milli Vanilli
2 Lambada--Kaoma
3 If Only I Could--Sydney Youngblood
4 Pump Up the Jam--Technotronic featuring Felly
5 The Best--Tina Turner
6 Trag meine Liebe wie einen Mantel--Boris Bukowski
7 That's What I Like--Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
8 Swing the Mood--Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
9 This One--Paul McCartney
10 French Kiss--Lil Louis

Singles entering the chart were Listen to Your Heart by Roxette (#11); I Just Don't Have the Heart by Cliff Richard (#24); and Dançando Lambada by Kaoma (#25).

World events
Rebels within the Philippine army attacked military positions in suburban Manila and planes dropped a few bombs in the sixth coup attempt so far against President Corazon Aquino. One of the bombs struck the presidential palace, but Mrs. Aquino was unhurt. Responding to a request from Mrs. Aquino, U.S. President George Bush authorized two U.S. F-4 jet fighters from Clark Air Force Base to provide air support for the Philippine government. There were no reports that the U.S. planes fired any shots.

Diplomacy
U.S. President George Bush arrived in the Maltese capital of Valletta the day before the beginning of his first summit with U.S.S.R. President Mikhail Gorbachev, scheduled to take place aboard ship in Marsaxlokk Bay. Mr. Bush met with Maltese leaders before boarding the U.S.S. Belknap in the bay. Mr. Gorbachev, meanwhile, visited Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. The pope endorsed Mr. Gorbachev’s reforms in the Soviet Union, and the two agreed to work toward establishing diplomatic relations. In a statement, Mr. Gorbachev called the meeting "extraordinary," and promised a law that would guarantee to Soviet citizens the right to "satisfy their spiritual needs."

Politics and government
The East German parliament revoked a clause in the constitution guaranteeing the Communists a "leading role" in society.

Vishwanath Pratap Singh, a former minister in the cabinet of outgoing Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was chosen as leader of the National Front coalition.

Economics and finance
The United States Commerce Department reported that its leading economic indicators had declined 0.4% in October.

10 years ago
1999

Died on this date
Stephen Brooks, 57. U.S. actor. Mr. Brooks co-starred in the television series The Doctors and the Nurses (1963-1964); The F.B.I. (1965-1967); and The Interns (1970-1971). He died of a heart attack.

Politics and government
The British Parliament completed legislative action that permitted the transfer of power in Northern Ireland from Britain to a new provisional government.

Protest
More than 400 people were arrested during demonstrations on the final day of the WTO meeting in Seattle.

Economics and finance
On the final day of the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization in Seattle, U.S. President Bill Clinton urged delegates from the 135 member nations to watch out for the environment and workers’ rights when drawing up trade agreements, and he criticized the secrecy with which the WTO functioned.