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March 16, 1941

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Headlines from March 16, 1941

America Acts

By Unknown Author

So said Franklin D. Roosevelt in Chicago on an October day in 1937. Many at the time regarded his words as prophesying a new American foreign policy -- a policy of democratic cooperation to save the world from totalitarian aggression. Last week, three years and five months after the Chicago "quarantine" speech, that policy appeared to have become the law of the land.

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Notable Births

Bernardo Bertolucci

1941Bernardo Bertolucci, Italian director and screenwriter (died 2018)[†]

Bernardo Bertolucci was an Italian film director and screenwriter with a career that spanned 50 years. Considered one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema, Bertolucci's work achieved international acclaim. With The Last Emperor (1987) he became the first Italian filmmaker to win the Academy Award for Best Director, and he received many other accolades including a BAFTA Award, a CĂ©sar Award, two Golden Globes, a Golden Lion in 2007, and an Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2011.

Robert Guéï

1941Robert GuĂ©ĂŻ, Ivorian soldier and politician, 3rd President of CĂŽte d'Ivoire (died 2002)[†]

Robert Guéï was an Ivorian politician who served as the third president of the Ivory Coast from 24 December 1999 to 26 October 2000. He succeeded President Henri Konan Bédié after the 1999 Ivorian coup d'état and lost to Laurent Gbagbo in the ensuing 2000 Ivorian presidential election. Guéï, his wife Rose Doudou Guéï, and his children were killed on 19 September 2002 on the first day of the First Ivorian Civil War.

Chuck Woolery

1941Chuck Woolery, American game show host and television personality (died 2024)[†]

Charles Herbert Woolery was an American television host, actor, and musician. He had long-running tenures hosting several game shows. Woolery was the original host of the original daytime Wheel of Fortune from 1975 until 1981, when he was replaced by Pat Sajak. After leaving Wheel of Fortune, Woolery hosted a number of other game shows including Love Connection (1983–1994), Scrabble, Greed (1999–2000), and Lingo (2002–2007). Woolery's musical career includes several advertising jingles, a top-40 pop hit with the psychedelic pop duo The Avant-Garde, and a number of country music releases. In the 2010s, Woolery also hosted a political podcasting series.

Historical Events

Operation Appearance

1941Operation Appearance takes place to re-establish British Somaliland[†]

Operation Appearance was a British landing in the British Somaliland Protectorate against troops of the Italian Army. The Italian conquest of British Somaliland had taken place in August 1940, seven months earlier. The British had withdrawn from the protectorate after a delaying action at the Battle of Tug Argan. This withdrawal, after the disastrous conclusion of the Battle of France and the Italian declaration of war on 10 June 1940, had repercussions among British leaders. It led the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, to lose confidence in General Archibald Wavell, the British commander in the Middle East, which culminated in Wavell's sacking on 20 June 1941.