On this day

February 20, 1954

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

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Headlines from February 20, 1954

MINISTER OF WAR OUSTED BY BRAZIL; Vargas Acts After Aide Hails 82 Colonels' Protest on Government's Policies

By the United Press

Resigns as War Min

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Charities Bilked of Millions In Gift Clothing, State Says; CHARITY RACKETS IN CLOTHING CITED

By Unknown Author

NYS Atty Gen Goldstein charges unscrupulous dealers get millions of dollars by misrepresenting used-clothing drives; holds dealers collect such clothing in name of religious orgns which permit use of their names in exch for 1¢ a lb from proceeds; repts clothing worth 10¢ a lb; asks Sup Ct injunction against 14 defendants; cites orgn of Bros of the Poor in Christ Pentecostal Temple by old clothes dealer N Scalice and Scalice-B Ferguson deal with Bais Yaakov Parochial School; Ch of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Lubavitcher Yeshiva Achei Tmimim also cited

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West Lays Failure in Berlin To 3 Key Soviet Obstacles; Refusal to Permit Free Vote in Germany, Balking of Austrian Treaty and Move to Break Up Allied Defense Cited FAILURE IN BERLIN LAID TO RUSSIANS

By Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES

Western Big 3 blame USSR for failure to settle major issues, communique; Moscow radio blames West

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Two Warehouses in Windsor Sink Into Earth Before Workers' Eyes; 600 Flee Scene as Near-By Buildings Tilt -- Collapse of Salt Mine Held Cause WAREHOUSE SINK AT WINDSOR PLANT

By the United Press

2 warehouses sink, others tilt in underground salt mine collapse, Windsor, Ont; map; illus

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Army Rebuffs McCarthy, Won't Open Files on Major; M'CARTHY DEFIED IN CASE OF MAJOR

By the United Press

Army rejects McCarthy demand for names of persons linked with Peress promotion and discharge; stands on Stevens lr to McCarthy; McCarthy says Zwicker testified he could do nothing to hold up discharge; Zwicker holds McCarthy rept of his testimony so slanted as to be not truthful; McCarthy demands Army identify official who rejected his request for data; Zwicker makes pub excerpts from Adjt Gen's office ordering Peress hon discharge; McCarthy rept of Zwicker testimony cited; McCarthy charged disgrace to Army in officers 'covering up' for Communists; officers refusal to answer certain queries by McCarthy based on Pres directive of Mar '48 and change of May '52; rules cited; Peress defends invoking 5th Amendment, statement

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Notable Births

1954Jon Brant, American bass player^[†]

Jonathan Edward "Jon" Brant is an American musician and business owner, best known as the bass player for the band Cheap Trick from 1982 to 1987. Brant was a founding member of the Chicago band D'Thumbs with Tommy Aldridge and Pete Comita and has also played with Chris Spedding, Robert Gordon, Lou Reed, Diana Ross, Lesley Gore, Jason & the Scorchers, Micki Free, and others. Brant has appeared on over 30 albums as composer and bassist.

1954Anthony Head, English actor^[†]

Anthony Stewart Head is an English actor and singer. Primarily a performer in musical theatre, he rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s following his role in the Gold Blend couple television advertisements for Nescafé, which led to major roles in several television series. He is best known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003), the Prime Minister in Little Britain (2003–2006), Uther Pendragon in Merlin (2008–2012), and Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso (2020–2023), as well as voicing Herc Shipwright in BBC Radio 4's Cabin Pressure.

1954Patty Hearst, American actress and author^[†]

Patricia Campbell Hearst is an American actress and member of the Hearst family. She is the granddaughter of American publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst.

Historical Context for February 20, 1954

In 1954, the world population was approximately 2,685,894,860 people^[†]