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The Constant Wife, a comedy of manners, was written by W. Somerset Maugham in 1926 and later published for general sales in April 1927.

Plot[link]

The leading character, Constance Middleton, is a calm, intelligent and self-possessed wife of a successful London doctor. Knowing full well of her husband's infidelity with her best friend Marie-Louise, Constance purposefully maintains the fiction held by her other friends, mother and sister that she has no idea of the affair. However, when confronted by Marie-Louise's jealous husband, Constance reacts in a way not expected by her husband, mother or sister. She first deftly conceals the affair from the husband, and then tells her family that she has known all along. She further shocks them by demonstrating a total lack of sentiment on the subject of matrimony. The modern wife, she explains, is nothing but a parasite, "a prostitute who doesn't deliver the goods." She resolves to establish her own economic independence ("which she considers the only real independence"), going into business as an interior decorator with her friend Barbara. After a year of successful employment, she pays her husband for her room and board, and then announces she is going off for an Italian vacation with a longtime admirer. Her husband is, in turn, shocked and outraged at this turn of events, but finally capitulates to her outrageous charm as the curtain falls.

Production history[link]

The play was first produced at the Ohio Theatre (Loudonville) Ohio, on November 1, 1926, with Ethel Barrymore playing the title role, and Mabel Terry-Lewis, and C. Aubrey Smith as support. It ran on Broadway for 295 performances, and was successfully toured by Ms. Barrymore afterwards. When the first edition of the play was published in 1927 Maugham dedicated it to her. Years later, he said that her performance was the best he had seen in any of his plays.

The West End premiere at the Strand Theatre in April 1927, starring Fay Compton, was by contrast, a critical and box-office fiasco. Subsequent London revivals have starred Ruth Chatterton (Globe Theatre, 1937); Ingrid Bergman (Albery Theatre, September 1973 — note, John Gielgud's staging, also starring Ingrid Bergman and Jack Gwillim, was subsequently revived at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway in April 1975); and Jenny Seagrove (Apollo Theatre, April 2002, then transferring to the Lyric Theatre, June 2002).

In December 1951, a revival starring Katharine Cornell was staged for a summer festival in Colorado. It was such a success that Cornell took the production to the National Theatre on Broadway starring herself and Brian Aherne. It grossed more money for Cornell's production company than any play she and her husband-director Guthrie McClintic ever produced.

Recent revivals include New York City (2005), Minneapolis (2005), and Charleston, SC (2007).

This article on a play from the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

"The Constant" is the fifth episode of the fourth season of the American Broadcasting Company's (ABC) serial drama television series Lost, and the 77th episode overall. It was broadcast on February 28, 2008, on ABC in the United States and on CTV in Canada.^[2] It was written by executive producer Carlton Cuse and co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and directed by executive producer Jack Bender.^[3] "The Constant" was watched by 15 million American viewers and is widely regarded as one of Lost's best episodes.^[4][5][6] It was nominated for three Emmy Awards, a Directors Guild of America Award, and a Hugo Award.^[7][8][9]

In the episode, Desmond Hume (played by Henry Ian Cusick) and Sayid Jarrah (Naveen Andrews) are being flown by Frank Lapidus (Jeff Fahey) to the freighter where Lapidus' mission is set. After going through turbulence, Desmond's consciousness unexpectedly travels through time between 1996 and 2004. The helicopter reaches the freighter and Sayid and Desmond are introduced to communications officer George Minkowski (Fisher Stevens), who is "unstuck in time" like Desmond.^[10] The writers took twice the time expected to develop the episode's script;^[11] the biggest concern was the avoidance of a temporal paradox when dealing with time travel.^[12]

Plot[link]

Desmond, Sayid and Lapidus experience turbulence while flying the 130 kilometers (about 80 miles) distance from the island where they were stranded to Lapidus' team's freighter, the Kahana. Desmond flashes back eight years to 1996, when he is serving with the British Army's Royal Scots Regiment. Moments later, when his consciousness returns to the present day, he neither knows where he is nor recognizes his companions, and has no memory of his life since 1996. After the helicopter lands, Desmond continues to jump between 1996 and 2004. He is taken to the sick bay, where a man named Minkowski is strapped to a bed because he is experiencing similar problems. Minkowski explains that someone sabotaged the radio room two days earlier and that Desmond's ex-girlfriend Penny Widmore (Sonya Walger) has been trying to contact the freighter. Sayid uses the satellite phone to contact Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) on the island and explains that Desmond appears to have amnesia. Daniel Faraday (Jeremy Davies), a physicist from the freighter, asks Jack whether Desmond has recently been exposed to a high level of radiation or electromagnetism. Jack is unsure, and so Daniel speaks to Desmond and asks him about his situation. Desmond responds that he believes that he is in 1996 and is serving with the Royal Scots. Faraday understands and tells Desmond that when he returns to 1996, he needs to go to the physics department of The Queen's College, Oxford University in England to meet with Daniel's past self, and gives Desmond some mechanical settings to relay, along with an extra phrase that Daniel assures him will convince Daniel's past self that the story is legitimate.^[13]

Desmond's flashbacks become more frequent and longer. In 1996, Desmond tracks down a younger Faraday at Oxford, who takes Desmond into his laboratory where he is experimenting with a time machine. Setting his electromagnetic device with the settings that Desmond has given him, Daniel places his laboratory rat, Eloise, in a maze and exposes her to electromagnetic energy. The rat appears to become comatose, then awakens and runs the maze. Daniel becomes excited because he had just built the maze and had not yet taught Eloise how to run it. Desmond realizes that, like the rat, he is caught in a time warp that is moving his consciousness between two different bodies at two different points in time and space. Eloise dies of a suspected brain aneurysm brought on by the exposure to the time lapse. Desmond becomes worried that he will die like Eloise, and Daniel instructs him to find something or someone—a constant—who is present in both times and can serve as an anchor for Desmond's mental stability. Desmond decides that Penny can be the constant; however, he must make contact with her in 2004. To find out where she lives, Desmond gets her address from her father Charles (Alan Dale), who is at an auction buying a journal owned by Tovard Hanso written by a crew member of the 19th century ship called the Black Rock.^[13]

In 1996, Desmond finds Penny, who is distraught over their break-up and is not willing to see him. However, he gets her telephone number and tells her not to change it because he will call her on Christmas Eve 2004. In 2004, Sayid, Desmond, and Minkowski escape the sick bay and begin to repair the broken communications equipment. Meanwhile, Minkowski enters into another flashback, and dies. Showing signs of suffering the same fate as Minkowski, Desmond telephones Penny, who tells Desmond that she has been searching for him for the past three years and they reconcile before the power is cut off. Having made contact with his "constant", Desmond stops alternating between 1996 and 2004. Back on the island, Daniel flips through his journal and discovers a note that he had written, "If anything goes wrong, Desmond Hume will be my constant."^[13]

Production[link]

"The Constant" is the second Lost episode to deal directly with the concept of time travel after "Flashes Before Your Eyes" from the third season. While promoting that episode, Lindelof said that it uses the flashback device "in a way we never have before and never will again"^[14] and while promoting "The Constant", he said that it "upholds that pledge, unpledges it, then repledges it."^[15] Lost's writer-producers enjoy science fiction themes such as time travel; however, they were careful not to create a paradox. The rules for time-travel in the series are outlined in "Flashes Before Your Eyes"—although, Lindelof has said that "The Constant" is a more important episode in terms of explaining time travel on the show^[11]—by Ms. Hawking (Fionnula Flanagan), who explains that certain events are inevitable and the universe will eventually correct any errors.^[16] Had these rules not been established, the writers feared that viewers would lose interest because the stakes of the characters would be lessened.^[17] The writers hoped that "The Constant" would further establish that there are no parallel universes or alternate realities. Lindelof reminisced that "just breaking that episode was such a massive headache" and Cuse added that "it was definitely like doing the hardest New York Times crossword puzzle for the week".^[18]

Cuse and Lindelof admitted they took some inspiration from the final episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "All Good Things...", where Captain Picard jumps between two time frames. The Lost writers compared Minkowski's role to Q, as "someone who is undergoing and understands the same events as our protagonist". Faraday, on the other hand, was the expert that always appears in time travel fiction—as Lindelof put it, "He's our Doc Brown here, who basically is gonna tell the protagonist to go and find him in the past".^[19] Whereas the average Lost episode took two weeks to plan and write, "The Constant" took five because the writers experienced difficulty when determining its effect on future stories.^[11] Popular Mechanics analyzed the possibility of time travel using Lost's rules. Michio Kaku claimed that "the show's producers did their homework". According to Kaku, "there's no law of physics preventing this kind of time travel—just a lack of know-how … [but] it would take a very advanced civilization to really do this".^[12] Cuse stated that "we [the writers] try to use enough science to give a sense of credibility".^[11] "The Constant" was the first episode set on the Kahana, but the writers decided to avoid using the new setting just to give new information—Lindelof has declared that "you would have mindless exposition unless the characters were in a constant state of crisis". According to Lindelof, Desmond's confusion prevents the characters who arrived from the island from asking questions to the freighter's crew.^[19]

Shooting occurred in the second half of October 2007.^[20] The scenes on the freighter in this and later episodes were filmed for several days on a freighter ten to fifteen minutes off the west coast of Oahu, Hawaii, where Lost is filmed. Instead of docking the ship and returning to the ocean each day, the actors and crew slept on the freighter in areas that were not being used for filming.^[21] The Oxford scenes were shot at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Honolulu.^[22] In 1996, Desmond has short hair and no facial hair and in 2004, Desmond sports long and untamed hair with a full beard. Cusick did not cut his hair; it was hidden underneath a short-haired wig by "really talented hair and makeup folks", according to Carlton Cuse. All freighter scenes were shot before Cusick shaved most of his beard for the 1996 scenes. A fake beard was glued onto Cusick for the episodes "Ji Yeon" and "Meet Kevin Johnson" while his beard grew back.^[23] The equations on Faraday's chalkboard were written by a physicist who was hired as a consultant by the producers.^[22] The way the transitions between the 1996 and 2004 scenes would take place was frequently discussed during production. The producers took the advice of editor Mark Goldman, who suggested sudden cuts with "no fancy effect, and in some cases, no sound cut", similar to the way "All Good Things..." was edited. The original ending would set up the following episode by having Charlotte (Rebecca Mader) drop a bag containing a gas mask at Faraday's feet. But the producers thought it did not work after the emotional scenes between Desmond and Penny, and decided to finish with Faraday reading his diary.^[19]

Reception[link]

Jeremy Davies's 2004 hairstyle is similar to that of Daniel in 1996

Ratings[link]

In its original American broadcast, "The Constant" was watched by 12.893 million viewers, ranking Lost eighth in weekly ratings.^[24] The episode was watched by a total of 14.998 million viewers, including those who watched within seven days of broadcast, making it the most recorded show of the week; this number went toward the year-end season average.^[25] It received 5.4/13 in the key adults 18–49 demographic.^[26] The Canadian broadcast was watched by 1.529 million people, making it the sixth most watched show of the week.^[27] In the United Kingdom, "The Constant" was watched by 911,000 viewers.^[28] 770,000 Australians tuned into Lost,^[29] placing it seventy-fifth in the weekly ratings chart.^[30]

Critical reaction[link]

This episode was critically praised and is often called the best episode of the series. Time named "The Constant" the best television episode of 2008,^[6] and according to Oscar Dahl of BuddyTV, "lots of people" referred to it as "the best Lost episode ever".^[5] It was listed as the best episode of Lost by IGN,^[4] Los Angeles Times,^[31] and ABC2,^[32] and was also featured in similar lists by TV Guide,^[33] and National Post.^[34]

In Entertainment Weekly, Alejandro Garay wrote, "One of my favorite episodes of 2008 was Lost’s 'The Constant.' It was a beautiful episode that made us fans fall in love with the show even more. The creators managed to build momentum with smart narrative, by using the romance card to develop such a complicated topic as time traveling. It was exquisite, mind-blowing, impeccably done, and unforgettable."^[35] Bill Keveney of USA Today wrote that it is "arguably the most highly praised episode of [the] well-received fourth season",^[11] while his colleague Robert Bianco deemed Henry Ian Cusick worthy of a Emmy Award nomination.^[36] Patrick Day of the Los Angeles Times called the episode a "mind-blowing tour de force".^[37] Maureen Ryan of The Chicago Tribune called it a "for-the-ages episode" with "a classic Lost moment" in Desmond and Penny's phone call and "an especially spine-tingling performance" by Cusick.^[38] Verne Gay of Newsday wrote, "last night's forty-four minutes of Lost were among the most satisfying forty-four minutes in front of the tube in my life." He added that "it wasn't merely a brilliant episode, which pushed the mythology forward more rapidly and richly than any episode in my memory, but it was an emotional release … I actually cried when Penny and Desmond finally … connected" and "there wasn't one, single, solitary false note".^[39] Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger said that "it was brilliantly executed, as both a brain-twister and as a love story" with an "outstanding" performance by Jeremy Davies.^[40] Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly described the episode as "the best single outing since season 1's 'Walkabout'"^[41] and named the phone call between Desmond and Penny the best moment of the season excluding any moments from the then yet-to-air season finale.^[42] Nikki Stafford of Wizard described "The Constant" as "mindblowing" and cited it as "the reason the hardcore fans love Lost."^[43] Matt Roush of TV Guide said that "the time-tripping went into overdrive with this week's brilliant episode … [which] worked beautifully as a showcase for Henry Ian Cusick as the tormented Desmond. It was almost a stand-alone episode, a Twilight Zone/X-Files-style adventure with a start, middle and killer finish."^[44]

Kristin Dos Santos of E! "loved every minute" and admitted that "this was one of [her] all-time favorite episodes, what with the undying love business and this indisputable fact: Henry Ian Cusick can frakking act".^[45] "The Constant" received high praise from IGN reviewer Chris Carabott calling it "a brilliantly executed hour of television " and "one of the finest episodes in the series". He gave it 10/10, tying it with "Pilot – Part One" and "Through the Looking Glass" as the best reviewed episode of Lost.^[46] LTG of Television Without Pity gave the episode an "A+"—the highest grade for any Lost episode.^[47] Erin Martell of AOL's TV Squad loved the episode and its unique flashback structure. "The Constant" strengthened her love for Desmond and Penny's story, saying "my heart won't break if none of [Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Juliet] end up together [but] if Desmond and Penny don't reunite, I will be devastated."^[48] Oscar Dahl of BuddyTV gave "The Constant" an excellent review, saying that "my mind has never spun this fast after a Lost episode" and the writers have "really outdone themselves" and "do not get enough credit for constantly tinkering with their story structure".^[5] Jay Glatfelter of The Huffington Post said that this "episode of Lost not only continued this season's thrilling momentum; it proved to fans that even in its fourth season, it still leaves us with our jaws hanging open … this was the make of possibly one of my favorite Lost episodes ever." Glatfelter also praised the characters, Daniel "more and more becoming one of [his] favorite characters" and calling Desmond "the most intriguing character on Lost [with] the best love story on the show and dare I say on television today".^[49] Daniel of TMZ graded the episode as an "A+", considering it to be one of the best Lost episodes. In his review, he compared television to film—specifically "The Constant" to No Country for Old Men, the 2007 Academy Award winner for Best Picture—and decided that television is far superior.^[50] Karla Peterson of The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that "[I was] almost as touched and relieved by the reunion as Desmond and Penny are"; however, she did not review "The Constant" as favorably as other critics, giving it an "A–".^[51] Dan Compora of SyFy Portal gave "The Constant" a mixed review. He described it as "an entertaining episode [with] a fine acting performance by Henry Ian Cusick", but criticized Desmond's repetitive story arc, criticized Frank's character, said that "Jeff Fahey is a fine actor, but so far, his character just hasn't really evolved enough for me to care yet" and concluded, "this episode didn't seem to really raise or answer anything of major importance, so I can't help but feel that it was nothing more than mid-season filler."^[52] Ben Rawson-Jones of Digital Spy graded it with four out of five stars, and wrote that "a refreshing shift in Lost's tone enabled loyal viewers to have their hearts warmed by the long distance smoochfest between Desmond and his beloved Penny".^[53]

Awards[link]

The episode was nominated in the categories of "Outstanding Cinematography for a One Hour Series" and "Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (original Dramatic Score)" for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards.^[7] It was Lost's representative episode in the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series category, which was won by Mad Men.^[7] Jeremy Davies and Henry Ian Cusick both submitted the episode on their behalves for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor - Drama Series.^[54] The episode was also considered in the category Outstanding Directing – Drama Series along with "The Shape of Things to Come" on Jack Bender's behalf.^[54] Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof submitted the episode for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.^[54] "The Constant" was nominated for the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form,^[8] and Jack Bender was nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award in the category Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series – Night.^[9]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: The Constant

• Episode guide and photos at ABC.com
• Overview at TV.com
• The Constant at the Internet Movie Database

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (June 2010)

Millie Jackson
Millie Jackson in concert.
Background information
Birth name	Mildred Jackson
Born	(1944-07-15) July 15, 1944 (age 67)
Origin	Thomson, Georgia, United States
Genres	Soul, disco, urban, quiet storm, R&B
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, comedienne
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1964–present
Labels	MGM Records (1970-1972) Spring Records (1973-1984) Jive Records (1985-1993) Weird Wreckuds (2000-present)
Associated acts	Isaac Hayes, Betty Wright, Keisha Jackson, Joi
Website	http://www.weirdwreckuds.com/

Mildred "Millie" Jackson (born July 15, 1944) is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter and comedienne. Three of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies.

Her vocal performances are often distinguished by long, humorous, and explicit spoken sections in her music, which she started doing on stage to get the attention of the audience. She has also recorded songs in a disco or dance music style and even some country styled songs. She is the mother of contemporary R&B singer, Keisha Jackson.

Early life[link]

Born in Thomson, Georgia, Jackson is the daughter of a sharecropper. Her mother died when she was a child and subsequently, she and her father moved to Newark, New Jersey. By the time Jackson was in her mid-teens, she had moved to Brooklyn to live with an aunt. She occasionally worked as a model for magazines like JIVE and Sepia.

Career[link]

Jackson's singing career reportedly began on a dare to enter a 1964 Harlem nightclub talent contest, which she won. Although she first recorded for MGM Records in 1970, she soon left and began a long association with New York-based Spring Records. Working with the label's in-house producer, Raeford Gerald, her first single to chart was 1971's deceptively titled "A Child of God (It's Hard to Believe)," which reached number 22 on the R&B charts. In 1972, Jackson had her first R&B Top Ten single with the follow-up, "Ask Me What You Want", which also reached the pop Top 30, then "My Man, A Sweet Man" reached #7 R&B; all three hits were co-written by Jackson. "My Man, A Sweet Man" retains its popularity today for Northern soul enthusiasts and is played on the radio in the UK and quoted as an example from this musical genre^[1] as is her recording of "House for Sale" from the same period.^[2] The following year brought her biggest single success and her third Top Ten hit, "It Hurts So Good," which made #3 on the R&B charts and #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. The single was featured in the blaxploitation film Cleopatra Jones.

In 1974, she released the album Caught Up, which introduced her innovative style of raunchy rap. The featured release was her version of Luther Ingram's million-seller, "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right", for which she received two Grammy nominations. By now, she had switched producers to work only with Brad Shapiro, recording at Muscle Shoals Studio in Alabama with the renowned Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. She continued to record most of her material for Spring there, including the follow-up album, Still Caught Up.

Over the next ten years, Jackson had a string of successful albums and numerous R&B chart entries, the biggest being her 1977 version of Merle Haggard’s country hit "If You’re Not Back In Love By Monday". That hit single was followed by many more, including her version of the Boney M. song, the disco single, "Never Change Lovers In The Middle of The Night." This single peaked at #33 on the Black Singles chart in 1979.

Jackson recorded an album in 1979 with Isaac Hayes called "Royal Rappin's" and the same year saw her release a double album, "Live And Uncensored", recorded in concert at Los Angeles venue, The Roxy. Jackson also formed and produced the group Facts of Life. They had a major hit in 1976 with "Sometimes" (#3 R&B, #31 Pop).

Jackson found herself without a label when Spring closed down in 1984, but in 1986, she signed with Jive Records in a deal that produced four albums and resulted in further R&B Top Ten hits with "Hot! Wild! Unrestricted! Crazy Love" and "Love Is a Dangerous Game". She appeared on an Elton John track in 1985, "Act Of War", which was a Top 40 hit in the UK, but failed to chart in the USA. In 1991, she wrote, produced and starred in the successful touring play Young Man, Older Woman, based on her album of the same title for Ichiban.

In 1994, Jackson appeared in an episode (Feast or Famine) of Martin as Florine.

In 2000, her voice featured in "Am I Wrong" by Etienne de Crécy, sampled from her performance in "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right".

Jackson may be most famous in the internet age for her album covers, which frequently appear on "worst ever" lists. E.S.P. (Extra Sexual Persuasion) features Jackson peering into a crystal ball that accentuates her cleavage; Back to the S t! depicts Jackson on a toilet and defecating.^[3][4]

Jackson now runs her own record label, Weird Wreckuds. After a lengthy hiatus from recording, she released her 2002 album, Not For Church Folk, which marked a return to her "tell-it-like-it-is" lyrical style and Urban contemporary sound. The album features the hit singles "Butt-A-Cize" (a dance song) and "Leave Me Alone" (a ballad). The album also features a collaboration with rapper Da Brat on the edgy song "In My Life."

Jackson had her own radio show in Dallas, Texas for 13 years. Broadcasting via remote from her home in Atlanta, Jackson worked in afternoon drive-time from 3-6 pm on KKDA 730 AM, until January 6, 2012.

In 2007, the 1977 album Feelin' Bitchy was reissued with positive reviews.

Personal life[link]

She has two children, including Keisha Jackson in the 1960's before she was married and son Jerroll from the late 1970s.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Singles[link]

• "A Child of God (It's Hard to Believe)" (US: #102)
• "Ask Me What You Want" (US: #27)
• "My Man, A Sweet Man" (US: #42), (US R&B: #7) (UK: #50)
• "Breakaway" (US: #110)
• "It Hurts So Good" (US: #24), (US R&B: #3)
• "I Miss You Baby
• "How Do You Feel the Morning After" (US: #77)
• "I'm Through Trying To Prove My Love To You"
• "I Got to Try It One Time"
• "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" (US: #42)
• "Leftovers" (US: #87)
• "Loving Arms"
• "The Rap"
• "Bad Risk"
• "Feel Like Making Love"
• "There You Are"
• "I Can't Say Goodbye"
• "If You're Not Back in Love By Monday" (US: #43)
• "A Love of Your Own"
• "All The Way Lover" (US: #102)
• "Sweet Music Man" (US R&B #33)
• "Keep The Home Fire Burnin'" (US R&B #83)
• "Never Change Lovers In The Middle of The Night" (US R&B: #33)
• "We Got To Hit It Off" (US R&B #56)
• "A Moment's Pleasure" (US R&B #70)
• "Despair"
• "Do You Wanna Make Love" feat. Isaac Hayes (US R&B #30)
• "This Is It (Part I) (US R&B #88)
• "You Never Cross My Mind"
• "I Can't Stop Loving You" (US R&B #62)
• "Anybody That Don't Like Millie Jackson"
• "Special Occasion" (US R&B #51)
• "I Feel Like Walkin' In The Rain" (UK: #55)
• "Hot! Wild! Unrestricted! Crazy Love" (US R&B #9) (UK: #99)
• "Act of War" feat. Elton John (UK: #32)
• "It's A Thang" (US R&B #79)
• "Love Is A Dangerous Game" (US R&B #6) (UK: #81)
• "An Imitation of Love" (US R&B #58)
• "Something You Can Feel" (US R&B #45)
• "You Knocked the Love (Right Outta My Heart)"
• "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
• "Young Man, Older Woman"
• "Living With A Stranger"
• "Taking My Life Back"
• "Love Quake"
• "Check in the Mail"
• "Chocolate Brown Eyes"
• "Breaking Up Somebody's Home"
• "The Lies That We Live"
• "Did You Think I Wouldn't Cry"
• "Butt-A-Cize"
• "Leave Me Alone"

^[5]

Chart singles[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Millie Jackson on Discogs.com
• Millie's Weird Wreckuds - Official website
• Official Millie Jackson MySpace
• Millie Jackson at Wenig-Lamonica Associates

I Blame Coco
Background information
Birth name	Eliot Paulina Sumner
Also known as	Coco, I Blame Coco
Born	(1990-07-30) 30 July 1990 (age 21) Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
Genres	New Wave, indie rock, electropop
Occupations	Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, drums, bass guitar, piano, synth
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Island Records
Associated acts	Teddybears, Fyfe Dangerfield, Sub Focus, Mew, Miike Snow, Robyn, Fiction Plane, La Roux
Website	iblamecoco.co.uk

Eliot Paulina Sumner (born 30 July 1990, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy), also known as Coco, is an English musician recording under the band name I Blame Coco. I Blame Coco's debut album, The Constant, was released in the United Kingdom on 8 November 2010. She is the daughter of musician Sting and actress/producer Trudie Styler.

I Blame Coco[link]

Eliot Sumner began playing music at a young age and writing songs at the age 15.^[1] Some of her earlier demos include "I Blame Coco", "Look The Other Way", "Bohemian Love", "Darkstar", "Never Be", "Voice In My Head", "Avion", and "No Smile" (A song which would later appear on her album, The Constant), many of which were imbued with a heavy reggae influence and elements of pop punk. The song "I Blame Coco", which was co-written with Mr Hudson, was released independently as a 7" single in 2007.^{[citation needed]} The band includes Jonny Mott - Keyboards, Alexis Nunez - Drums, Jonas Jalhay - Guitar and Rory Andrew - Bass.^{[citation needed]}

At age 17, Eliot signed a multi-record deal with Island Records.^[2][3] Eliot spent six months writing and recording her debut album The Constant in Sweden with one of her two producers, Klas Åhlund.^[1] According to his manager, Christian Wåhlberg, Åhlund had been keen to work with Eliot because he saw the "punk rocker" in her.^[4] The electropop sound of her debut album was influenced by Island president Darcus Beese, with Wåhlberg saying that if Eliot had signed to a different label then the music she created with Åhlund would have sounded differently.^[4] I Blame Coco's debut single for Island, "Caesar", featuring Robyn, was released in February 2010.^[3] Eliot released her follow-up single entitled "Self Machine" on 12 July 2010.^[5]

Eliot has worked with Fyfe Dangerfield performing "Only Love Can Break Your Heart",^[6] Miike Snow, and Sub Focus performing "Splash". She has also performed with Pete Doherty, Mr Hudson and Plan B.

In April 2010, I Blame Coco supported Mercury Prize nominee La Roux on their UK tour.^{[citation needed]} Throughout summer 2010, I Blame Coco played several music festivals including, Glastonbury, Leeds/Reading, Latitude, Secret Garden Party, Benicassim, Wireless, Isle of White, Lovebox and Jalouse Rocks.^{[citation needed]} October and November 2010, saw the band embark on their very first headline UK and European tour. The UK tour was supported by Kyla La Grange.^{[citation needed]} Sumner is currently working on her second album. On 14 February, the band appeared at London's Hoxton Bar & Kitchen to showcase some of their new material, which exhibits a more laidback & mature sound.

Other work[link]

Eliot provided guest vocals on the track "End of The Road" from the 2008 Sway DaSafo album, The Signature LP. In April 2010, she provided vocals and appeared in the Sub Focus' single "Splash",^[7] from his 2010 self-titled début album, Sub Focus. Eliots vocals can also be heard on the Miike Snow track 'Animal'.^{[citation needed]} Aside from music, Eliot also had a small role in the 2007 film Stardust and featured in Burberry Spring/Summer 2008 advertising campaign.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life[link]

Eliot Sumner is the daughter of musician Sting and actress/producer Trudie Styler. Eliot has five siblings. Her half-brother Joseph Sumner (born 1976) is the lead singer of the band Fiction Plane. Her half-sister is actress Fuchsia Catherine "Kate" Sumner (born 1982). Bridget Michael "Mickey" Sumner (born 1984) is a filmmaker, artist and actress, Jake Sumner (born 1985) is a film director and younger sibling Giacomo Luke Sumner (born 1995). Eliot suffers from symptoms of losing her sense of smell after a brain injury in 2009^[8] and is obsessed with buying keyboards.^[9]

Sumner was educated at Bryanston School in Dorset and then the Fine Arts College, a 6th form college in Belsize Park, north London.^[10]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Singles[link]

Featured singles[link]

Music videos[link]

Awards and Nominations[link]

Virgin Media Music Awards[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• I Blame Coco on Myspace

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (August 2010)

Lee Kuan Yew GCMG CH
Minister Mentor
In office 12 August 2004 – 21 May 2011
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded by	New title
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Senior Minister
In office 28 November 1990 – 12 August 2004
Prime Minister	Goh Chok Tong
Preceded by	S. Rajaratnam
Succeeded by	Goh Chok Tong
1st Prime Minister of Singapore Elections: 1959- 1988
In office 5 June 1959 – 28 November 1990
President	Yusof bin Ishak Benjamin Henry Sheares C. V. Devan Nair Wee Kim Wee
Deputy	See list Toh Chin Chye (1959–1968) Goh Keng Swee (1968–1985) Goh Chok Tong (1985–1990) S. Rajaratnam (1980–1985) Ong Teng Cheong (1985–1990)
Succeeded by	Goh Chok Tong
Secretary-General of the People's Action Party
In office 21 November 1954 – 1 November 1992
Succeeded by	Goh Chok Tong
Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC Tanjong Pagar SMC (1955–1991)
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 April 1955
Majority	Walkover
Personal details
Born	(1923-09-16) 16 September 1923 (age 88) Singapore
Nationality	Singapore
Political party	People's Action Party
Spouse(s)	Kwa Geok Choo (m. 1950–2010, her death)
Children	Lee Hsien Loong Lee Wei Ling Lee Hsien Yang
Alma mater	Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Agnostic[1]
Military service
Awards	(1967)

This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG CH (born 16 September 1923) is a Singaporean statesman.^[2][3][4][5] He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades. By the time he stepped down, he had become the world's longest-serving Prime Minister.^[6]

As the co-founder and first secretary-general of the People's Action Party (PAP), he led the party to eight victories from 1959 to 1990, and oversaw the separation of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965 and its subsequent transformation from a relatively underdeveloped colonial outpost with no natural resources into a "First World" Asian Tiger. He is one of the most influential political figures in South-East Asia.^[7]

Singapore's second prime minister, Goh Chok Tong, appointed him as Senior Minister in 1990. He held the advisory post of Minister Mentor, created by his son, Lee Hsien Loong, when the latter became the nation's third prime minister in August 2004.^[8][9] With his successive ministerial positions spanning over 50 years, Lee is also one of history's longest-serving ministers. On 14 May 2011, Lee and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong announced their retirement from the cabinet after the 2011 General Election.^[10]

Family background[link]

According to his autobiography, Lee Kuan Yew is a fourth-generation Singaporean. His Hakka great-grandfather, Lee Bok Boon, who was born in 1846, emigrated from the Dapu county of Guangdong province in China to Singapore in 1863.^[11] Lee Bok Boon came to Singapore in 1863. He married a shopkeeper's daughter Seow Huan Nio in Singapore but returned to China in 1882, leaving wife Seow Huan Nio and her three children behind in Singapore. Upon his return, Lee Bok Boon built a little manor in southern China in his home village, and bought himself a mandarinate, but he died two years after his return, in 1884.^{[12] [13]}

Lee Kuan Yew's grandfather is Lee Hoon Leong. He was born in Singapore in 1871, and was a British subject. He was educated in English at Raffles Institution (Secondary) to standard V, which is equivalent to lower secondary school in Singapore today. Lee Hoon Leong worked as a dispenser -- an unqualified pharmacist -- when he left school, and later worked as a purser on board a steamer which belonged to the Heap Eng Moh Shipping Line, which was then owned by Chinese businessman Oei Tiong Ham. ^[11]

While Lee Hoon Leong was working as a purser, at age 26, he married Ko Liem Nio, aged 16, in Semarang, a city in central Java. ^[12] As was common at that time, theirs was an arranged marriage. Both families were middle-class and successful, and both bride and groom were English-educated. Lee Hoon Leong's maternal grandfather owned the Katong market, a few rubber estates and houses at Orchard Road.^[13] Lee Hoon Leong later became a managing director in the Heap Eng Moh Steamship Company Ltd.^[11]

Lee Hoon Leong would go on to have two wives (common for Singaporeans at that time), five daughters and three sons. One of his sons, Lee Chin Koon, also English-educated and a British subject, would go on to marry Chua Jim Neo, who gave birth to Lee Kuan Yew, in 1923, at 92 Kampong Java Road in Singapore. Lee Kuan Yew has three brothers -- Dennis Lee, Freddy Lee and Lee Suan Yew. He also has one sister -- Monica Lee. ^[11]

Lee Kuan Yew's grandfathers' wealth declined considerably during the Great Depression and his father, Lee Chin Koon became poor and became a storekeeper.^[13]

Lee's brother Dennis read law at the University of Cambridge, just like he did, and set up a law firm -- Lee & Lee -- with Lee and his wife Kwa Geok Choo. Edmund W. Barker, a good friend of Lee's, also joined the law firm. Lee, together with Barker, later left the law firm to enter politics. Brother Freddy Lee became a stockbroker. And Lee Suan Yew read medicine at the University of Cambridge and set up a successful practice.^[11]

Lee and his wife Kwa Geok Choo were married on 30 September 1950. Both speak English as their native tongue. Lee started learning Chinese in 1955 at age 32, before that he was illiterate in Chinese.^[14][15] Lee also learned Japanese as an adult and he worked as a Japanese translator during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore.^{[16] [11]}

His wife died on 2 October 2010 in her sleep. They have two sons and one daughter.^[17]

His eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong, a former Brigadier-General, became Prime Minister of Singapore in 2004. Lee Hsien Loong was educated at the University of Cambridge as well, where he studied Mathematics and Computer Science. He graduated as a Wrangler (University of Cambridge), where he scored 12 more alphas ([an alpha is one problem solved) than his nearest competitor, which has never been seen in the history of the Tripos at Cambridge. He later went on to Harvard University to gain a Masters in Public Administration. ^[11]

Several members of Lee's family hold prominent positions in Singaporean society. His youngest son, Lee Hsien Yang, was also a former Brigadier-General and former President and Chief Executive Officer of SingTel. He too was educated at the University of Cambridge, where he studied Engineering and graduated with a first. He is currently the Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Fraser and Neave Ltd and chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).^[18]

His daughter, Lee Wei Ling, runs the National Neuroscience Institute. Lee Hsien Loong's wife, Ho Ching, is the Executive Director and CEO of Temasek Holdings.^{[19] [20]}

Early life[link]

Lee was born a British subject in Singapore in 1923, at 92 Kampong Java Road in Singapore. ^[11]

According to his memoirs, Lee was first educated at Telok Kurau Primary School, where he had no trouble staying ahead of the class despite not 'trying at all'. He described his fellow students at Telok Kurau as poor and not very bright and advantaged. He then attended Raffles Institution which is a top school in Singapore. In Raffles Institution, Lee had 'to try' because he met the top 150 students from all over Singapore. He made an effort to get into the top class and joined the Scouts for three years. He also played cricket, tennis and chess. During his junior Cambridge years, he obtained several scholarships and subsequently came in top for the School Certificate examinations, obtaining the John Anderson scholarship to attend Raffles College (now National University of Singapore). Lee was the top student in the whole of Singapore and Malaya. ^[11]

Lee's university education was delayed by World War II and the 1942–1945 Japanese occupation of Singapore. During the occupation, Lee learnt Japanese and first worked as a clerk in his grandfather's friend's company -- a textile importer called Shimoda. Lee then found work transcribing Allied wire reports for the Japanese where he listened to Allied radio stations and wrote down what they were reporting in the Hodobu office (報道部 – a Japanese propaganda department).^[7] Towards the end of the war, by listening to Allied radio stations, he realised the Japanese were going to lose, and fearing that a brutal war would break out in Singapore as the Japanese made their last stand, he made plans to purchase and move to a farm on the Cameron Highlands with his family. However, a liftboy in his office told him his file has been taken out by the security department, and he realised was being followed by Japanese security personnel (which continued for three months), so he abandoned those plans as he knew that if he went he would be in trouble. Lee also ran his own businesses during the war to survive, among which, he manufactured stationery glue under his own brand called 'Stikfas'. ^[13]

During the occupation, Lee was asked by a Japanese guard to join a group of segregated Chinese men. Sensing that something was amiss, he asked for permission to go back home to collect his clothes first, and the Japanese guard agreed. It turned out that those who were segregated were taken to the beach to be shot as part of the Sook Ching massacre in Singapore. ^{[11] [21]}

After the war, Lee went on to study in England. He briefly attended the London School of Economics before moving to Cambridge University, where he studied Law at Fitzwilliam College and graduated with a rare Double Starred (double First Class Honours). Lee was subsequently made an honorary fellow of Fitzwilliam College. ^[13]

In England, Lee campaigned for a friend named David Widdicombe, who was in the Labour Party (UK). He drove Widdicombe around in a lorry and delivered several speeches on his behalf. After seeing how the British had failed to defend Singapore from the Japanese, and after his stay in England, Lee decided that Singapore has to govern itself. He returned to Singapore in 1949. ^{[13] [22]}

Lee, in his memoirs, recounted how he has had to sing four national anthems in his lifetime. First, 'God Save The Queen' when Singapore was a British colony. Then, 'Kimigayo', the Japanese national anthem during the Japanese occupation of Singapore. Third, the Malaysian national anthem 'Negaraku', when Singapore was part of Malaysia for two bitter years. And finally, 'Majulah Singapura', the national anthem of Singapore.^[11]

Early political career – 1951 to 1959[link]

Pre-People's Action Party (PAP)[link]

In his memoirs, Lee recounted that he had intended to return to Singapore to work as a lawyer. Upon his return, Lee worked in the law firm of John Laycock's for $500 per month. He also worked as a legal advisor to the trade and students' unions. ^[11]

Lee's first experience with politics in Singapore was his role as election agent for his then boss John Laycock under the banner of the pro-British Progressive Party in the 1951 legislative council elections. ^[11]

Formation of the PAP[link]

On 12 November 1954, Lee, together with a group of fellow English-educated middle-class men whom he himself described as "beer-swilling bourgeois", formed the 'socialist' People's Action Party in an expedient alliance with the pro-communist trade unionists. This alliance was described by Lee as a marriage of convenience, since the English-speaking group needed the Chinese-speaking pro-communists' mass support base while the communists needed a non-communist party leadership as a 'smoke-screen' because the Malayan Communist Party was illegal. At that time, almost 70% of Singapore spoke Chinese and various Chinese dialects as their native tongues, and those who speak English as their native tongue only comprised 20% or so of the population. They were therefore, a minority. ^[12]

Their common aim was to agitate for self-government and put an end to British colonial rule.

An inaugural conference was held at the Victoria Memorial Hall, attended by over 1,500 supporters and trade unionists. Lee became secretary-general, a post he held until 1992, save for a brief period in 1957. ^[12]

In opposition[link]

Lee won the Tanjong Pagar seat in the 1955 elections. He became the opposition leader against David Saul Marshall's Labour Front-led coalition government. He was also one of PAP's representatives to the two constitutional discussions held in London over the future status of Singapore, the first led by Marshall and the second by Lim Yew Hock, Marshall's hardline successor. It was during this period that Lee had to contend with rivals from both within and outside the PAP.^[12]

Lee's position in the PAP was seriously under threat in 1957 when pro-communists took over the leadership posts, following a party conference which the party's left wing had stacked with fake members.^[23] Fortunately for Lee and the party's moderate faction, Lim Yew Hock ordered a mass arrest of the pro-communists and Lee was reinstated as secretary-general. After the communist 'scare', Lee subsequently received a new, stronger mandate from his Tanjong Pagar constituents in a by-election in 1957. The communist threat within the party was temporarily removed as Lee prepared for the next round of elections.^[12]

Prime Minister, pre-independence – 1959 to 1965[link]

Self-government administration – 1959 to 1963[link]

In the national elections held on 1 June 1959, the PAP won 43 of the 51 seats in the legislative assembly. Singapore gained self-government with autonomy in all state matters except defence and foreign affairs, and Lee became the first Prime Minister of Singapore on 5 June 1959, taking over from Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock.^[24] Before he took office, Lee demanded and secured the release of Lim Chin Siong and Devan Nair, who had been arrested earlier by Lim Yew Hock's government. Lee faced many problems after gaining self-rule for Singapore from the British, including education, housing, and unemployment.^{[citation needed]}

A key event was the motion of confidence of the government in which 13 PAP assemblymen crossed party lines and abstained from voting on 21 July 1961. Together with six prominent left-leaning leaders from trade unions, the breakaway members established a new party, the Barisan Sosialis. At its inception it had popular support rivalling that of the PAP.^{[citation needed]} 35 of the 51 branches of PAP and 19 of its 23 organising secretaries went to the Barisan Sosialis. This event was known as The Big Split of 1961. The PAP's majority was now 26-25 in the legislative assembly.^{[citation needed]}

In 1961, the PAP faced two by-election defeats as well as the defections and labour unrest by leftists.^{[citation needed]} Lee's government was near collapse until the 1962 referendum on the issue of merger, which was a test of public confidence in the government.^{[citation needed]}

Merger with Malaysia, then separation – 1963 to 1965[link]

After Malayan Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed the formation of a federation which would include Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak in 1961, Lee began to campaign for a merger with Malaysia to end British colonial rule. He used the results of a referendum held on 1 September 1962, in which 70% of the votes were cast in support of his proposal, to demonstrate that the people supported his plan.

On 16 September 1963, Singapore became part of Malaysia. However, the union was short-lived. The Malaysian Central Government, ruled by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), became worried by the inclusion of Singapore's Chinese majority and the political challenge of the PAP in Malaysia. Lee openly opposed the bumiputra policy and used the Malaysian Solidarity Convention's famous cry of "Malaysian Malaysia!", a nation serving the Malaysian nationality, as opposed to the Malay race.

The 1964 race riots in Singapore followed, such as that on Muhammad's birthday (21 July 1964), near Kallang Gasworks, in which 23 people were killed and hundreds injured as Chinese and Malays attacked each other. It is still disputed how the riots started, and theories include a bottle being thrown into a Muslim rally by a Chinese, while others have argued that it was started by a Malay. More riots broke out in September 1964, as rioters looted cars and shops, forcing both Tunku Abdul Rahman and Lee Kuan Yew to make public appearances in order to calm the situation.

Unable to resolve the crisis, the Tunku decided to expel Singapore from Malaysia, choosing to "sever all ties with a State Government that showed no measure of loyalty to its Central Government". Lee was adamant and tried to work out a compromise, but without success. He was later convinced by Goh Keng Swee that the secession was inevitable. Lee signed a separation agreement on 7 August 1965, which discussed Singapore's post-separation relations with Malaysia in order to continue co-operation in areas such as trade and mutual defence.

The failure of the merger was a heavy blow to Lee, who believed that it was crucial for Singapore’s survival. In a televised press conference on television that day, he broke down emotionally as he formally announced the separation and the full independence of Singapore:^{[citation needed]}

"For me, it is a moment of anguish. All my life, my whole adult life, I... I believed in Malaysian merger and unity of the two territories. You know that we, as a people are connected by geography, economics, by ties of kinship... It literally broke everything that we stood for.... Now, I, Lee Kuan Yew, as Prime Minister of Singapore, in this current capacity of mine do hereby proclaim and declare on behalf on the people and the Government of Singapore that as from today, the ninth day of August in the year one thousand nine hundred and sixty-five, Singapore shall be forever a sovereign democratic and independent nation, founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of the people in a most and just equal society."

On that same day, 9 August 1965, just as the press conference ended, the Malaysian Parliament passed the required resolution that would sever Singapore's ties to Malaysia as a state, and thus the Republic of Singapore was created. Singapore's lack of natural resources, a water supply that was beholden primarily to Malaysia and a very limited defensive capability were the major challenges that Lee and the Singaporean Government faced.^[25]

Prime Minister, post-independence – 1965 to 1990[link]

In his autobiography, Lee stated that he did not sleep well, and fell sick days after Singapore's independence. Upon learning of Lee's condition from the British High Commissioner to Singapore, John Robb, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson expressed concern, in response to which Lee replied:

"Do not worry about Singapore. My colleagues and I are sane, rational people even in our moments of anguish. We will weigh all possible consequences before we make any move on the political chessboard..."

Lee began to seek international recognition of Singapore's independence. Singapore joined the United Nations on 21 September 1965, and founded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on 8 August 1967 with four other South-East Asian countries. Lee made his first official visit to Indonesia on 25 May 1973, just a few years after the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation under Sukarno's regime. Relations between Singapore and Indonesia substantially improved as subsequent visits were made between Singapore and Indonesia.

Singapore has never had a dominant culture to which immigrants could assimilate even though Malay was the dominant language at that time. Together with efforts from the government and ruling party, Lee tried to create a unique Singaporean identity in the 1970s and 1980s—one which heavily recognised racial consciousness within the umbrella of multiculturalism.

Lee and his government stressed the importance of maintaining religious tolerance and racial harmony, and they were ready to use the law to counter any threat that might incite ethnic and religious violence. For example, Lee warned against "insensitive evangelisation", by which he referred to instances of Christian proselytising directed at Malays. In 1974 the government advised the Bible Society of Singapore to stop publishing religious materials in Malay.^[26]

Decisions and policies[link]

Lee Kuan Yew had three main concerns – national security, the economy, and social issues – during his post-independence administration.^{[citation needed]}

National security[link]

The vulnerability of Singapore was deeply felt, with threats from multiple sources including the communists and Indonesia with its Confrontation stance. As Singapore gained admission to the UN, Lee quickly sought international recognition of Singapore's independence. He declared a policy of neutrality and non-alignment, following Switzerland's model.^{[citation needed]} At the same time, he asked Goh Keng Swee to build up the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and requested help from other countries, particularly Israel, for advice, training and facilities.

The economy[link]

Lee always placed great importance on developing the economy, and his attention to detail on this aspect went even to the extent of connecting it with other facets of Singapore, including the country's extensive and meticulous tending of its international image of being a "Garden City",^[27] something that has been sustained to this day.

Government policies[link]

Like many countries, Singapore had problems with political corruption. Lee introduced legislation giving the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) greater power to conduct arrests, search, call up witnesses, and investigate bank accounts and income-tax returns of suspected persons and their families.

Lee believed that ministers should be well paid in order to maintain a clean and honest government. In 1994, he proposed to link the salaries of ministers, judges, and top civil servants to the salaries of top professionals in the private sector, arguing that this would help recruit and retain talent to serve in the public sector.^[28]

In the late 1960s, fearing that Singapore's growing population might overburden the developing economy, Lee started a vigorous Stop at Two family planning campaign. Couples were urged to undergo sterilisation after their second child. Third or fourth children were given lower priorities in education and such families received fewer economic rebates.^[28]

In 1983, Lee sparked the 'Great Marriage Debate' when he encouraged Singapore men to choose highly-educated women as wives. He was concerned that a large number of graduate women were unmarried. Some sections of the population, including graduate women, were upset by his views. Nevertheless, a match-making agency Social Development Unit (SDU) was set up to promote socialising among men and women graduates.^[28] In the Graduate Mothers Scheme, Lee also introduced incentives such as tax rebates, schooling, and housing priorities for graduate mothers who had three or four children, in a reversal of the over-successful 'Stop-at-Two' family planning campaign in the 1960s and 1970s. By the late 1990s, the birth rate had fallen so low that Lee's successor Goh Chok Tong extended these incentives to all married women, and gave even more incentives, such as the 'baby bonus' scheme.^[28]

Corporal punishment[link]

One of Lee Kuan Yew's abiding beliefs has been in the efficacy of corporal punishment in the form of caning. In his autobiography The Singapore Story he described his time at Raffles Institution in the 1930s, mentioning that he was caned there for chronic lateness by the then headmaster, D. W. McLeod. He wrote: "I bent over a chair and was given three of the best with my trousers on. I did not think he lightened his strokes. I have never understood why Western educationists are so much against corporal punishment. It did my fellow students and me no harm."^[29]

Lee's government inherited judicial corporal punishment from British rule, but greatly expanded its scope. Under the British, it had been used as a penalty for offences involving personal violence, amounting to a handful of caning sentences per year. The PAP government under Lee extended its use to an ever-expanding range of crimes.^[30] By 1993 it was mandatory for 42 offences and optional for a further 42.^[31] Those routinely ordered by the courts to be caned now include drug addicts and illegal immigrants. From 602 canings in 1987, the figure rose to 3,244 in 1993^[32] and to 6,404 in 2007.^[33]

It was in 1994, with the intensely publicised caning, under that vandalism legislation, of the American teenager Michael Fay, that judicial caning came to the notice of the rest of the world.

School corporal punishment (for male students only) was likewise inherited from the British, and this is in widespread use to discipline disobedient schoolboys, still under 1957 legislation.^[34] Lee also introduced caning in the Singapore Armed Forces, and Singapore is one of the few countries in the world where corporal punishment is an official penalty in military discipline.^[35]

Relations with Malaysia[link]

Mahathir bin Mohamad[link]

Lee looked forward to improving relationships with Mahathir bin Mohamad upon the latter's promotion to Deputy Prime Minister. Knowing that Mahathir was in line to become the next Prime Minister of Malaysia, Lee invited Mahathir (through the then President of Singapore Devan Nair) to visit Singapore in 1978. The first and subsequent visits improved both personal and diplomatic relationships between them. Mahathir asked Lee to cut off links with the Chinese leaders of the Democratic Action Party; in exchange, Mahathir undertook not to interfere in the affairs of Malay Singaporeans.

In June 1988, Lee and Mahathir reached an agreement in Kuala Lumpur to build the Linggui dam on the Johor River.^{[citation needed]}

Senior Minister – 1990 to 2004[link]

Lee Kuan Yew (middle) meets with U.S. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen and Singapore's Ambassador to the U.S. Chan Heng Chee in 2000.

After leading the PAP to victory in seven elections, Lee stepped down on 28 November 1990, handing over the prime ministership to Goh Chok Tong. He was then the world's longest-serving Prime Minister.^[6]

This was the first leadership transition since independence.

When Goh Chok Tong became head of government, Lee remained in the cabinet with a non-executive position of Senior Minister and played a role he described as advisory. In public, Lee would refer to Goh as "my Prime Minister", in deference to Goh's authority. He has said in a 1988 National Day rally:

"Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up."

Lee subsequently stepped down as the Secretary-General of the PAP and was succeeded by Goh Chok Tong in November 1992.

Minister Mentor – 2004 to 2011[link]

Since the 2000s (decade), Lee has expressed concern about the declining proficiency of Mandarin among younger Chinese Singaporeans. In one of his parliamentary speeches, he said: "Singaporeans must learn to juggle English and Mandarin". Subsequently, in December 2004, a one-year long campaign called 华语 Cool! (Huayu Cool!) was launched, in an attempt to attract young viewers to learn and speak Mandarin.^[36]

In June 2005, Lee published a book, Keeping My Mandarin Alive, documenting his decades of effort to master Mandarin, a language which he said he had to re-learn due to disuse:

"...because I don't use it so much, therefore it gets disused and there's language loss. Then I have to revive it. It's a terrible problem because learning it in adult life, it hasn't got the same roots in your memory."

In an interview with CCTV on 12 June 2005, Lee stressed the need to have a continuous renewal of talent in the country's leadership, saying:

"In a different world we need to find a niche for ourselves, little corners where in spite of our small size we can perform a role which will be useful to the world. To do that, you will need people at the top, decision-makers who have got foresight, good minds, who are open to ideas, who can seize opportunities like we did... My job really was to find my successors. I found them, they are there; their job is to find their successors. So there must be this continuous renewal of talented, dedicated, honest, able people who will do things not for themselves but for their people and for their country. If they can do that, they will carry on for another one generation and so it goes on. The moment that breaks, it's gone."

In November 2010, Lee's private conversations with US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg on 30 May 2009 were among the US Embassy cables leaked by WikiLeaks. In a US Embassy report classified as 'Secret', Lee gave his assessment of a number of Asian leaders and views on political developments in North Asia, including implications for nuclear proliferation.^[37] Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern about the leaks, especially when read out of context, and the need to protect confidentiality of diplomatic correspondence.^[38]

In January 2011, Straits Times Press published the book Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going.^[39] Targeted at younger Singaporeans, it was based on 16 interviews with the Minister Mentor by seven local journalists in 2008–2009. The first print run of 45,000 copies sold out in less than a month after it was launched in January 2011. Another batch of 55,000 copies was made available shortly after.^[40]

After Singapore General Elections 2011 in which the Opposition made unprecedented gains by winning a Group Representative Constituency, Lee announced that he has decided to leave the Cabinet for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his team to have a fresh clean slate.^[41]

International organisations[link]

Lee Kuan Yew is a member of the Fondation Chirac's honour committee,^[42] ever since the foundation was launched in 2008 by former French president Jacques Chirac in order to promote world peace.

Legacy and memoirs[link]

Legacy[link]

During the three decades in which Lee held office, Singapore grew from being a developing country to one of the most developed nations in Asia, despite its small population, limited land space and lack of natural resources. Lee has often stated that Singapore's only natural resources are its people and their strong work ethic. He is widely respected by many Singaporeans, particularly the older generation, who remember his inspiring leadership during independence and the separation from Malaysia. Indeed, for many people in Singapore and other countries, Lee is inextricably linked with their perceptions of Singapore's country brand.^[43]

On the other hand, many Singaporeans have criticized Lee as being authoritarian and intolerant of dissent, citing his numerous mostly successful attempts to sue political opponents and newspapers who express an unfavorable opinion. International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has asked Lee, and other senior Singaporean officials, to stop taking libel actions against journalists.^[44]

In 2004 the National University of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy was named after him, one of the first cases of an institution in Singapore doing so.^{[citation needed]}

Memoirs[link]

Lee wrote a two-volume set of memoirs: The Singapore Story (ISBN 0-13-020803-5), which covers his view of Singapore's history until its separation from Malaysia in 1965, and From Third World to First: The Singapore Story (ISBN 0060197765), which gives his account of Singapore's subsequent transformation into a developed nation.^{[citation needed]}

Awards[link]

Lee receives the Order of Friendship from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 15 November 2009 in Singapore.

• Lee has received a number of state decorations, including the Order of the Companions of Honour (1970), Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1972), the Freedom of the City of London (1982), the Seri Paduka Mahkota Johor (1984), the Order of Great Leader (1988) and the Order of the Rising Sun (1967).^[45]
• In 2002, Lee was formally admitted to the Fellowship of Imperial College London in recognition of his promotion of international trade and industry, and development of science and engineering study initiatives with the UK.^[46]
• In 2006, Lee was presented with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
• In 2007, Lee was conferred an honorary Doctorate in Law at the Australian National University in Canberra, albeit amid protest from students and staff.^[47]
• In October 2009, Lee was conferred the first Lifetime Achievement award by the U.S.-Asean Business Council at its 25th anniversary gala dinner in Washington, D.C.. In his tribute, former United States Secretary of State and 1973 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr Henry Kissinger said:^[48]

  "He has become a seminal figure for all of us. I've not learned as much from anybody as I have from Mr Lee Kuan Yew. He made himself an indispensable friend of the United States, not primarily by the power he represented but by the quality of his thinking.

Meeting the U.S. President at the White House Oval Office a day later, President Barack Obama introduced him as:^[49][50]

"... one of the legendary figures of Asia in the 20th and 21st centuries. He is somebody who helped to trigger the Asian economic miracle."

• On 15 November 2009, Lee was awarded the Russian Order of Friendship by President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of APEC Singapore 2009.^[51]
• On 29 April 2010, Lee was named in the TIME 100 list as one of the people who most affect our world.^[52]
• On 14 January 2011, Lee received the inaugural Gryphon Award from his alma mater, Raffles Institution, given to illustrious Rafflesians who have made exceptional contributions to the nation.^[53]
• On 19 October 2011, Lee received the Lincoln Medal in Washington DC — an honor reserved for people who have exemplified the legacy and character embodied by former US President Abraham Lincoln.^[54]
• On 21 February 2012, Lee was conferred the Kazakhstan Order of Friendship by Ambassador Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev, at the Istana.^[55]

Health[link]

On 13 September 2008, Lee, then 84, underwent successful treatment for abnormal heart rhythm (atrial flutter) at Singapore General Hospital, but he was still able to address a philanthropy forum via video link from hospital.^[56] On 28 September 2010, he was hospitalized for a chest infection, cancelling plans to attend the wake of Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Balaji Sadasivan.^[57]

On a Sunday Times column on 6 November 2011, Lee's daughter Wei Ling revealed that Lee, 88, suffers from peripheral neuropathy.^[58] In the column, she recounted how she first noticed her father's ailments when she accompanied her father to meet former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Connecticut in October 2009. Wei Ling, a neurologist, "did a few simple neurological tests and decided the nerves to his legs were not working as they should". A day later, when interviewed at a constituency event, Lee Kuan Yew stated "I have no doubt at all that this has not affected my mind, my will nor my resolve" and "People in wheel chairs can make a contribution. I've still got two legs, I make a contribution."

Controversies[link]

Devan Nair[link]

Devan Nair, the third President of Singapore and who was living in exile in Canada, remarked in a 1999 interview with the Toronto The Globe and Mail that Lee's technique of suing his opponents into bankruptcy or oblivion was an abrogation of political rights. He also remarked that Lee is "an increasingly self-righteous know-all", surrounded by "department store dummies". In response to these remarks, Lee sued Devan Nair in a Canadian court and Nair countersued. Lee then brought a motion to have Nair's counterclaim thrown out of court. Lee argued that Nair's counterclaim disclosed no reasonable cause of action and constituted an inflammatory attack on the integrity of the government of Singapore. However, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice refused to throw out Nair's counterclaim, holding that Lee had abused the litigating process and therefore Nair has a reasonable cause of action.^[59]

Defamation judgment[link]

On 24 September 2008 the High Court of Singapore, in a summary judgment by Justice Woo Bih Li, ruled that the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER) magazine (Hugo Restall, editor), defamed Lee and his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The court found the 2006 article "Singapore's 'Martyr': Chee Soon Juan" meant that Lee Kuan Yew "has been running and continues to run Singapore in the same corrupt manner as T. T. Durai operated the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and he has been using libel actions to suppress those who would question to avoid exposure of his corruption."^[60] The court sentenced FEER, owned by Dow Jones & Company (in turn owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp), to pay damages to the complainants. FEER appealed^[60] but lost the case when the Court of Appeal ruled in October 2009 that the Far Eastern Economic Review defamed Lee Kuan Yew and his son Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.^[61]

Islam[link]

In 2011, Wikileaks published diplomatic cables which attributed controversial comments regarding Islam to Lee kuan Yew. Wikileaks quoted Lee as having described Islam as a "venomous religion". Lee later denied making the comments.^[62]

The incident followed hot on the heels of Lee's controversial book release "Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going". In the book, Lee claimed that Singaporean Muslims faced difficulties in integrating because of their religion, and urged them to "be less strict on Islamic observances".^[63]

During Lee's rule of Singapore, Singapore's Muslims faced restrictions on building religious schools and mosques. Muslims also had their Islamic call to prayer banned from being publicly announced in 1974, which caused outrage amongst much of the Muslim community.^[64] Limits were also placed on "racial" groups inhabiting Singapore's HDB buildings, this affected the Malay minority, who are mostly Muslim.

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Han Fook Kwang, Zuraidah Ibrahim, Chua Mui Hoong, Lydia Lim, Ignatius Low, Rachel Lin, Robin Chan. 2011. Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going. Singapore: Straits Times Press Books.
• Koh, Buck Song (2011). Brand Singapore: How Nation Branding Built Asia's Leading Global City. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish.
• Barr, Michael D. 2000. Lee Kuan Yew: The Beliefs Behind the Man. Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Press.
• Datta-Ray, Sunanda K. 2009. Looking East to Look West: Lee Kuan Yew's Mission India
• Gordon, Uri. 2000. Machiavelli's Tiger: Lee Kwan Yew and Singapore's Authoritarian regime
• Josey, Alex. 1980. Lee Kuan Yew – The Crucial Years. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur: Times Books International.
• King, Rodney. 2008. The Singapore Miracle, Myth and Reality. 2nd Edition, Insight Press.
• Kwang, Han Fook, Warren Fernandez and Sumiko Tan. 1998. Lee Kuan Yew: The Man and His Ideas. Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings.
• McCarthy, Terry (23 August 1999). "Lee Kuan Yew". Time Asia (Hong Kong). http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazine/1999/990823/lee1.html. 
• Minchin, James. 1986. No Man is an Island. A Study of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

External links[link]

	Singapore portal
	Biography portal

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Lee Kuan Yew

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lee Kuan Yew

• Lee Kuan Yew
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Lee Kuan Yew on Charlie Rose
• Lee Kuan Yew at the Internet Movie Database
• Works by or about Lee Kuan Yew in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Lee Kuan Yew collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Lee Kuan Yew at the Notable Names Database

Interviews and articles

• A Conversation with Lee Kuan Yew, Fareed Zakaria, Foreign Affairs, March–April 1994
• War of Words Alejandro Reyes, Time, 25 September 1998
• Lee Kuan Yew: A Chronology, 1923–1965 Largely based on Lee Kuan Yew, The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore: Times, 1998. Retrieved 8 December 2004
• Part 1, Part 2: CNN, Fareed Zakaria talks with Lee Kuan Yew about his life as prime minister of Singapore, 22 September 2008
• Daddy knows best: The Lee Kuan Yew story, Tom Plate, Sify.com, 2010(?)
• Lee Kuan Yew Watch
• Official Profile at the Parliament of Singapore (archived)
• The short film Interview with Lee Kuan Yew (1967) is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]

v t e Prime Ministers of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew Goh Chok Tong Lee Hsien Loong