On this day

May 12, 1981

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

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Headlines from May 12, 1981

Index; International

By Unknown Author

Five years after her fall, Mrs. Peron is still a rallying point A2 Slaying of West German politician being investigated A3 Pakistan remains unhappy with elements of U.S. aid package A3 Foes of Marcos plan a civil diso- bedience campaign A4 Around the World A7 New and old rivalries and outside meddling imperil Lebanon A8 Government/Politics Reports released on campaign fi- nances of Jersey candidates B2 Legislature delays action on Bos- ton bail-out bill B10 Congress is warned of tax losses if I.R.S. budget is cut B10 Kennedy lists queries for agricul- ture agency nominee D22 General Around the Nation A12 Gains found in white-Vietnamese shrimping dispute A12 Fulton Fish Market inquiry leads to more than 100 subpoenas B2 Ferry captain says freighter in crash did not heed whistle B3 Waste-disposal companies denies charges and fights state action B9 Industry/Labor Pilots' union says new jets need crews of 3 for safety A16 Postal Service to consult on for- mat for contract talks B10 Candidate to lead teamsters denies he is a "crook" B10 Style Fashion Notes C12 Silk, satin and lace: New lingerie boutiques C12 A showcase for Israeli fashions, and a bit of nostalgia C12 Features/Notes Notes on People C9 Going Out Guide C9 Science Times James Brady's recovery: Doctors describe his good fortune C1 Great paintings give clues to the illnesses of the artists C1 An American pregnancy labora- tory claims its first success C1 About Education: Computers in the classroom C1 Bee mites threaten the world's honey production C1 Essay: Dissent and despair among scientists C2 Science Watch C2 Sinkhole in Florida grows still wider C3 Education: struggles of a small medical school C3 Arts/Entertainment "Ah, Men," a musical, at the South Street Theater C7 Hollywood cutting back as writers' strike lengthens C7 "Amadeus" leads Tony race with 7 nominations C7 Soviet playwright rebuked in press for ideological deviation C10 Religious publishing, with broader appeal, is booming C10 David Bradley's "The Chaneys- ville Incident" is reviewed C11 Rothko works are made available to scholars C14 "The Five of Me," film about mul- tiple personalities, on CBS-TV C15 Obituaries Rogers E. M. Whitaker, writer for The New Yorker D23 Bob Marley, leading star of reg- gae music D23 Paul Petroff and his wife, Nana Gollner, ballet dancers D23 Sports Cooney knocks out Norton in 54 seconds of first round B11 Dave Anderson on comebacks by heavyweights B11 How the Islanders and North Stars shape up for final B11 Homosexuality sets off tremors in sports B11 Marvis Frazier wins on knockout in sixth round B12 Mets' Brooks recounts a day to forget B13 Yankees return home to face A's - and Steinbrenner B13 Ryan strikes out 11 as Astros beat Reds, 5-0 B13 News Analysis Richard Eder surveys French election results A6 Drew Middleton on West Germa- ny's problems with its army A9 Editorials/Letters/Op-Ed Editorials A14 Mitterrand, still running Pressuring Prosecutor Korman The dog law, gone to the dogs Topics: animal, vegetable Letters A14 Sydney H. Schanberg: marching against midden A15 Tom Wicker: who's for the hit list? A15 Neil Jumonville: diversity among evangelicals A15 Robert Klein: setting the V.A. right A15

Metropolitan Desk528 words

Brooks Recounts Day to Forget

By Thomas Rogers

Of the 69 men that the Mets have used at third base since the club was formed in 1962, none ever had a more frustrating inning in the field than did Hubie Brooks on Sunday in a 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Shea Stadium. Brooks, who played 23 games at third base last September and has played 24 there this spring, seems to have taken over the position. Mike Cubbage and John Stearns have been used only sparingly at third this season.

Sports Desk578 words

CORRECTIONS

By Unknown Author

A Business Day article yesterday misstated the sales plans of the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in the United States.

Metropolitan Desk59 words

U.S. AND JAPAN PLAN CUTS IN SEMICONDUCTOR TARIFFS

By Clyde H. Farnsworth, Special To the New York Times

Bill Brock, the United States trade representative, said today that the United States and Japan had made a significant breakthrough in liberalizing trade in semiconductors, the tiny memory chips that are at the heart of much advanced technology. At a breakfast meeting with reporters, Mr. Brock disclosed that Japan's Prime Minister, Zenko Suzuki, had agreed ''in principle'' at a meeting with Mr. Brock on Saturday to a mutual reduction in semiconductor tariffs, dropping the duty in both countries to 4.2 percent of import value in the next 12 months. Japan now has a 10.1 percent tariff, and the United States one of 5.6 percent for the memory chips. The European Economic Community, whose producers are generally acknowledged to be less efficient than those in the United States and Japan, has a 17 percent tariff and is not a party to the agreement.

Financial Desk716 words

News Summary; TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1981

By Unknown Author

International Financial turmoil gripped France after the election of Francois Mitterrand as the first Socialist President since Charles de Gaulle founded the Fifth Republic in 1958. Securities prices tumbled, the franc came under heavy speculative pressure, the price of gold soared, and the Goverment sent additional customs officers to airports and frontier crossings to prevent any smuggling of valuables to foreign havens. (Page A1, Column 3.) American-French amity was stressed by President Reagan in a message congratulating Francois Mitterrand for his victory in France's presidential election. Mr. Reagan said he looked forward to working with the Socialist leader, but he expressed concern about the possibility of Communists being invited to join the Government.(A6:1-4.)

Metropolitan Desk875 words

Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of May 6, 1981, covering May 12, 1981.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Paradise Theater by Styx

    Paradise Theater

    Styx

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    15
  2. 2
    Album cover for Hi Infidelity by REO Speedwagon

    Hi Infidelity

    REO Speedwagon

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    22
  3. 3
    Album cover for Arc Of A Diver by Steve Winwood

    Arc Of A Diver

    Steve Winwood

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    3
    Weeks
    17
  4. 4
    Album cover for Face Dances by The Who

    Face Dances

    The Who

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    6
  5. 5
    Album cover for Winelight by Grover Washington| Jr.

    Winelight

    Grover Washington| Jr.

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    5
    Weeks
    26

Notable Births

Rami Malek

1981Rami Malek, American actor[†]

Rami Said Malek is an American actor. He is known for portraying computer hacker Elliot Alderson in the USA Network television series Mr. Robot (2015–2019), for which he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, and Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury in the biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), for which he won numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actor, becoming the first actor of Egyptian heritage to win in that category.

Notable Deaths

Francis Hughes

1981Francis Hughes, Provisional IRA hunger striker (born 1956)[†]

Francis Joseph Sean Hughes was a volunteer in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) from Bellaghy, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Hughes was the most wanted man in Northern Ireland until his arrest following a shoot-out with the British Army in which a British soldier was killed. At his trial, he was sentenced to a total of 83 years' imprisonment; he died during the 1981 Irish hunger strike in HM Prison Maze. Hughes was one of 22 Irish republicans who died on hunger-strike between 1917 and 1981.

Benjamin Sheares

1981Benjamin Sheares, Singaporean professor and politician, second President of Singapore (born 1907)[†]

Benjamin Henry Sheares was a Singaporean physician and academic who served as the second president of Singapore between 1971 until his death in 1981. Of Eurasian descent, Sheares was born in Singapore under British rule and graduated from the King Edward VII College of Medicine. He studied obstetrics and gynaecology and worked as an obstetrician at the Kandang Kerbau Hospital (KKH), eventually serving as the Acting Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Malaya in Singapore. He later became the Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the university, a rare feat for a local as usually high-ranking colonial officers held such positions.

Historical Context for May 12, 1981

In 1981, the world population was approximately 4,528,777,306 people[†]