HistorTweet Week in Review - W/E March 6, 2010

[SFX: CHURCHBELL] Greetings, History Lovers! Welcome to This Tweet in History, the Week In Review, podcasting to you on tape delay from our North American Studios.

Here are your top stories for the week ending March 6, 2010:

[SFX: SOUND827]World: DATELINE Philadelphia, March 4, WRLD: 1797 - Washington, Adams establish precedent of peaceful transtion between elected leaders: http://bit.ly/d8II6F
The Back-Story: [SFX: Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree; Young American; I’ll be around] The post-revolutionary United States of America had all the prerequisites for a dictatorship: A land devastated, emotionally and economically by a long war, the commanding general of which was anointed national leader. They, however, departed from the script, when their leader, George Washington, declined the trappings and titles of power, opting to be called Mr. President, rather than His Royal Highness or something similar. Most extraordinarily, after having served two terms in office, Mr, Washington chose on his own not to seek a further term of office. His vice president, John Adams, a stalwart in the movement for independence, was elected to replace him. On a crisp Philadelphia morning in March, in front of Congressional Hall, Adams was sworn in, bringing to completion the first peaceful transition between elected leaders in modern history. [SFX: But, Mr. Adams]

[SFX: SOUND827]Sports: DATELINE Los Angeles, March 4, 1990 - Hank Gathers is gathered home: http://bit.ly/4DhVMS
The Back-Story: [SFX: ]After Loyola-Marymount University’s basketball star, Hank Gathers, collapsed at the foul line during a game, he was diagnosed with an abnormal heartbeat and treated with a beta-blocker, Inderal, to counteract the effects of adrenaline and smooth out his heart’s rhythms. The drug made him sluggish and tired, and affected his game. When doctors refused to change his dosage, he began reducing it on his own and skipping testing. His game improved as his health declined. Ultimately, early in a game in the West Coast Conference tournament, Gathers tumbled to the courtunable to get up. Medics were unable to revive the young star. [SFX:Schicksalslied]

[SFX: SOUND827]: Entertainment: DATELINE US: February 28, 1983 - After 11 years, M*A*S*H bids viewers Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen: http://bit.ly/TCIiP
The Back-Story: [SFX:Just one of those things]For over a decade, the TV series, M*A*S*H brought us a piece of the Forgotten War, the Korean conflict, spinning tales of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in America’s living rooms. After 250 episodes, the series finale, Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen, aired, in what was a landmark TV event. Multiple writers, including “Hawkeye” Pierce’s Alan Alda, collaborated on a script that highlighted the individual personnel in the unit and sought to close out the story lines. The episodem, which held the record for most total viewership until this year’s Super Bowl, still stands as the most-watched broadcast in America on the basis of ratings share. [SFX: Suicide is painless]

[SFX: SOUND827] This week’s birthdays:[SFX: In the Club]

February 28: Actor Zero Mostel
March 1: Author Ralph Ellison
March 2: Composer Bedrich Smetana
March 3: Inventor Alexander Graham Bell
March 4: Singer Miriam Makeba
March 5: Actor Rex Harrison
March 6: Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning


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