On this day
Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
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Brit and German communiques
1 meatless day, 1 beefless, ordered, France
Lord Halifax expresses Soviet-Finnish amity hope
Pors
1939Flavio Cotti, Swiss lawyer and politician, 82nd President of the Swiss Confederation (died 2020)[†]
Flavio Cotti was a Swiss politician who served as member of the Federal Council from 1986 to 1999. He was a member of the Christian Democratic People's Party from the canton of Ticino. In the 1990s, Cotti led the Swiss government's unsuccessful attempts to further Switzerland's political integration into the European Union. He was President of the Confederation in 1991 and 1998 and headed the departments of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs.
1939Mike Ditka, American football player, coach, and sportscaster[†]
Michael Keller Ditka is an American former professional football player, coach, and television commentator. During his playing career, he was UPI NFL Rookie of Year in 1961, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and a six-time All-Pro tight end with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL); he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. Ditka was the first tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in his rookie season.
1939Lee Harvey Oswald, American assassin of John F. Kennedy (died 1963)[†]
Lee Harvey Oswald was a U.S. Marine veteran who assassinated John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, on November 22, 1963.
1939Paddy Reilly, Irish folk singer and guitarist[†]
Patrick Reilly is an Irish folk singer and guitarist. Born in Rathcoole, County Dublin, he is one of Ireland's most famous balladeers and is best known for his renditions of "The Fields of Athenry", "Rose of Allendale" and "The Town I Loved So Well". Reilly released his version of "The Fields of Athenry" as a single in 1983; it was the most successful version of this song, remaining in the Irish charts for 72 weeks. He achieved number 1 in Ireland with the Liam Reilly written song "Flight of Earls" in 1988.
1939Jan Erik Vold, Norwegian poet, author, and translator[†]
Jan Erik Vold is a Norwegian lyric poet, reciter, translator and author. He was a member of the so-called "Profil generation", the circle attached to the literary magazine Profil. Throughout his career, he has contributed to modernist Norwegian poetry. Jan Erik Vold is currently living in Stockholm.