On this day

March 4, 1931

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

Notable Births

Wally Bruner

1931Wally Bruner, American journalist and television host (died 1997)[†]

Wallace Bruner Jr. was an American journalist and television host. He covered Congress and the Lyndon Johnson administration for ABC News in the 1960s. He was the first host of the 1968–1975 syndicated version of What's My Line? and went on to host the syndicated home repair show Wally's Workshop. He was also one of the first Americans to receive a heart transplant.

Bob Johnson (ice hockey, born 1931)

1931Bob Johnson, American ice hockey player and coach (died 1991)[†]

Robert Norman "Badger Bob" Johnson was an American college, international, and professional ice hockey coach. He coached the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team from 1966 to 1982, where he led the Badgers to seven appearances at the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championships, including three titles. During his time as the head coach at Wisconsin, Johnson also coached the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 1976 Winter Olympics and seven other major championships, including the Canada Cup and IIHF World Championships. He then coached the Calgary Flames for five seasons that included a Stanley Cup Finals loss in 1986. Johnson achieved the peak of his professional coaching career in his only season as coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990–91, when the Penguins won the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals, becoming the second American-born coach to win it and the first in 53 years. In August 1991, following hospitalization due to a brain aneurysm, Johnson was diagnosed with brain cancer. He died on November 26 of the same year.

William H. Keeler

1931William Henry Keeler, American cardinal (died 2017)[†]

William Henry Keeler was an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as archbishop of Baltimore in Maryland, from 1989 to 2007 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals in 1994. He previously served as auxiliary bishop and bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg in Pennsylvania. Keeler was president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1992 to 1995.

Alice Rivlin

1931Alice Rivlin, American economist and politician (died 2019)[†]

Alice Mitchell Rivlin was an American economist and budget official. She served as the 16th vice chair of the Federal Reserve from 1996 to 1999. Before her appointment to the Federal Reserve, Rivlin was named director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Clinton administration from 1994 to 1996. Prior to that, she was instrumental in the establishment of the Congressional Budget Office and became its founding director from 1975 to 1983. A member of the Democratic Party, Rivlin was the first woman to hold either of those posts.

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Headlines from March 4, 1931