Edward Emmett Kaufman is a retired American politician and businessman who served as a United States senator from Delaware from 2009 to 2010. He chaired the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program; he was the second and final person to hold the position, succeeding Elizabeth Warren. Kaufman is a member of the Democratic Party and a key ally of former president Joe Biden.

1939Robert Nye, English author, poet, and playwright (died 2016)^[†]

Robert Nye FRSL was an English poet and author. His bestselling novel Falstaff, published in 1976, was described by Michael Ratcliffe as "one of the most ambitious and seductive novels of the decade", and went on to win both The Hawthornden Prize and Guardian Fiction Prize. The novel was also included in Anthony Burgess's 99 Novels: The Best in English Since 1939 (1984).

1939Julie Tullis, English mountaineer (died 1986)^[†]

Julie Tullis was a British climber and filmmaker who died while descending from K2's summit during a storm, along with four other climbers from several expeditions, in what was later termed the 1986 K2 disaster or the "Black Summer" of 1986.

Historical Events

1939Germany occupies Czechoslovakia.^[†]

The military occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany began with the German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938, continued with the creation of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, and by the end of 1944 extended to all parts of Czechoslovakia.

1939Carpatho-Ukraine declares itself an independent republic, but is annexed by Hungary the next day.^[†]

Carpatho-Ukraine or Carpathian Ukraine was an autonomous region, within the Second Czechoslovak Republic, created in December 1938 and renamed from Subcarpathian Rus', whose full administrative and political autonomy had been confirmed by constitutional law of 22 November 1938.

Headlines from March 15, 1939

Tiso Asks for Backing Of Slovaks in the U.S.

Senate Upholds Dog in Right to One Bite; Defeats Bill Backed by Mailmen of State

ARMIES ON MARCH; Reich Invades Slovakia and Czech Provinces Without Opposition PEOPLE TAKEN UNAWARES But Czechs Keep Self-Control as State Is Snuffed Out-- Await Orders From Berlin

ROOSEVELT INSISTS REVENUES STAY UP IN ANY TAX CHANGE; Consolidating of Five Levies Is Only Business-Aid Revision Considered, He Says SCANS CORPORATE BURDEN Treasury-Congress Conferees, He Indicates, Seek Best Distribution of Imposts

Notable Births

Historical Events