On this day

August 31, 1974

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

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Headlines from August 31, 1974

Shea and Scott Dismissed By Police in Killing of Boy

By Joseph B. Treaster

NYC Ptl Thomas J Shea found guilty in dept trial of causing death of 10-yr-old Clifford Glover and is dismissed from force; partner Walter J Scott dismissed on charges of having lied to protect Shea; defense attys plan appeal; Deputy Police Comr Philip R Michael's opinion noted; Queens residents hail verdict; PBA Pres Ken McFeeley reiterates charge that trial was held in kangaroo ct; Shea illus (L)

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Economists Hopeful on Summit Meeting

By Michael Jensen

Economists invited to Pres Ford's presummit conf next wk say session will provide Pres with weapons to use in his battle against inflation but doubt that specific program will emerge; 21 economists invited include wide variety of liberals and conservatives from indus, assns and univs; most view conf positively and some view Pres Ford's initiative as evidence that he might begin to steer own econ course (L)

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TRAIN CRASH KILLS 100 IN YUGOSLAVIA

By Unknown Author

Express train bound for West Germany on Aug 30 derails and overturns near Zagreb, Yugoslavia, killing at least 100 persons and injuring 150; incident is described as Yugoslavia's worst rail disaster; train's coaches careen along for several hundred yds before overturning, tearing down overhead power lines; most deaths were reptdly caused by live cables hitting train; map (M)

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of August 28, 1974, covering August 31, 1974.

  1. 1
    Album cover for 461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton

    461 Ocean Boulevard

    Eric Clapton

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    7
  2. 2
    Album cover for Fullfillingness First Finale by Stevie Wonder

    Fullfillingness First Finale

    Stevie Wonder

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    4
  3. 3
    Album cover for Back Home Again by John Denver

    Back Home Again

    John Denver

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    10
  4. 4
    Album cover for Bachman-Turner Overdrive II by Bachman-Turner Overdrive

    Bachman-Turner Overdrive II

    Bachman-Turner Overdrive

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    33
  5. 5
    Album cover for Bad Company by Bad Company

    Bad Company

    Bad Company

    Last week
    6
    Peak
    5
    Weeks
    6

Notable Births

Andrei Medvedev (tennis)

1974Andriy Medvedev, Ukrainian-MonĂ©gasque tennis player[†]

Andrei Medvedev is a Ukrainian former professional tennis player. Medvedev reached the final of the 1999 French Open, the French Open semifinals in 1993, and won four Masters titles during his career, achieving a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in May 1994.

Notable Deaths

1974William Pershing Benedict, American soldier and pilot (born 1918)[†]

William Pershing Benedict was an American pilot who was born in Ruth, Nevada and raised in California. He was a highly decorated World War II fighter pilot who served in both the RCAF and the U.S. Army Air Forces. 18 months after joining the U.S. Army Air Forces, at 26 years of age, Benedict achieved the rank of Major and was made Squadron Commander. He is best known for being the first American man to land an aircraft on the North Pole.

Norman Kirk

1974Norman Kirk, New Zealand engineer and politician, 29th Prime Minister of New Zealand (born 1923)[†]

Norman Eric Kirk was a New Zealand politician who served as the 29th prime minister of New Zealand and as well as the minister of Foreign Affairs from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. He also served as the seventh leader of the Labour Party from 1965 to 1974.

Historical Context for August 31, 1974

In 1974, the world population was approximately 3,996,416,096 people[†]