25 years ago:
The Globe and Mail reported that U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz said he was carrying "some very interesting and reasonable positions" to present Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko when the superpowers resumed arms control talks in Geneva on Jan. 7, 1985. One of the most severe cold snaps of the century gripped much of Europe and at least 30 people were believed to have frozen to death or died in accidents. While Paris and several other major European cities were paralyzed by the snow and cold, one young Parisian mounted his windsurfer on skies to slide by the Eiffel Tower.
50 years ago:
The Globe and Mail reported that Canada and the United States agreed, after two days of talks in Washington, that they had a common interest in their relations with the emerging European trade blocs - self-interest. This, apart from general pious statements in favour of free multilateral trade, was the only agreement Washington and Ottawa could reach. The Toronto Argonauts signed quarterback Tobin Rote - not once, but twice. The 10-year veteran of the National Football League was signed to a pair of contracts - one for 1960 and one for 1961 - at an estimated $24,000 each season, including bonus arrangements. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker said anti-Semitic slogans that had appeared on buildings in Canada were "deplorable" in every sense of the word.
100 years ago:
The Globe reported 11 people were dead in California from ptomaine poison in fruit. Winston Churchill, while campaigning in Dundee, Scotland, declared for the payment of members of Parliament and the nationalization of railways. Petitions asking for a pardon for the swindling former "Ice King" Charles W. Morse, in federal prison in Atlanta for bank fraud, were being circulated in Maine. Toronto's "army" of baseball fans were to have the opportunity of seeing Christy Mathewson (for years regarded as the greatest pitcher in the game), Hal Chase (the phenomenal first baseman of the New York Giants) and a galaxy of big league stars when an indoor team captained by Mathewson (nicknamed "Big Six," "the Christian Gentleman" or "Matty") played a team composed of Toronto professionals at the Riverdale Rink.