On this day

December 13, 1998

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

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Headlines from December 13, 1998

Some Things Never Age. Just Ask Dr. Ruth.

By James Barron

Christie's plans to sell trove of ancient erotic art at auction, including dozens of objects made between 500 BC and 400 AD that cannot be described in detail in family newspaper; nature of objects made describing them in catalogue a delicate matter; Dr Ruth Westheimer, noted sex therapist, is invited by Christie's to turn scholarly eye on collection; photos (M)

Arts and Leisure Desk1335 words
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TESTING OF A PRESIDENT: THE REACTION

By Jodi Wilgoren

House Judiciary Committee approval of articles of impeachment against Pres Clinton forces people of Tarrytown, NY, to confront gravity of issues involved; a number of people believe Clinton should go, but worry that impeachment might be the wrong course or that it would threaten national prosperity and America's world leadership; snickering over the Monica Lewinsky scandal gives way to bickering; many still wish the scandal would just go away, and some are just tuning out; photos (M)

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A Captain In Rough Waters

By Robert Lipsyte

Robert Lipsyte column on his parents in their current trials; his mother, 90, is in and out of life-support at a hospital, while his 94-year-old father stands by; drawing (M)

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of December 9, 1998, covering December 13, 1998.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Double Live by Garth Brooks

    Double Live

    Garth Brooks

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    2
  2. 2
    Album cover for Garage Inc. by Metallica

    Garage Inc.

    Metallica

    Last week
    —
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    1
  3. 3
    Album cover for These Are Special Times by Celine Dion

    These Are Special Times

    Celine Dion

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    3
    Weeks
    4
  4. 4
    Album cover for Spirit by Jewel

    Spirit

    Jewel

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    3
    Weeks
    2
  5. 5
    Album cover for Greatest Hits by 2Pac

    Greatest Hits

    2Pac

    Last week
    —
    Peak
    5
    Weeks
    1

Notable Deaths

Lew Grade

1998Lew Grade, Ukrainian-born British impresario and media proprietor (born 1906)[†]

Lew Grade, Baron Grade, was a Ukrainian-born British media proprietor and impresario. Originally a dancer, and later a talent agent, Grade's interest in television production began in 1954 when he founded the Incorporated Television Company to distribute programmes, and following the success of The Adventures of Robin Hood decided to focus on bringing them to the American market. Grade had some success in this field with such series as Gerry Anderson's many Supermarionation series such as Thunderbirds, Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner, and Jim Henson's The Muppet Show. Later, Grade invested in feature film production, but several expensive box-office failures caused him to lose control of ITC, and ultimately resulted in the disestablishment of ATV after it lost its ITV franchise.

1998Richard Thomas, Royal Naval Officer (born 1922)[†]

Admiral Sir William Richard Scott Thomas, was a senior Royal Navy officer and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the British Parliament's House of Lords from January 1992 to 8 May 1995.

1998Wade Watts, civil rights activist (born 1919)[†]

Wade Watts was an American gospel preacher and civil rights activist from Oklahoma. He served as the state president of the Oklahoma chapter of the NAACP for sixteen years, challenging the Ku Klux Klan through Christian love doctrine. He worked with Thurgood Marshall and developed a friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. during the American civil rights movement, and has been cited as a mentor by the current leader of the NAACP in Oklahoma, Miller Newman, and his nephew, former congressman, J. C. Watts.

Historical Context for December 13, 1998

In 1998, the world population was approximately 6,007,066,690 people[†]