FEBRUARY 28, 1939

Full News Archive

• Headline: Belgian Cabinet Falls Amid Dispute. Impact: The swift fall of the Pierlot regime triggered a series of unstable governments in Belgium, leading to a national obsession with short-lived cabinets. This ultimately inspired a bizarre trend in Belgian fashion—'The Cabinet Chic'—where politicians would change outfits every week to match their changing leadership.. Fact: Belgium once had a cabinet last as little as six days—proving that sometimes, a political career can be shorter than a fruit fly's life..
• Headline: Historic Legislative Session in Washington. Impact: This mundane headline marked the beginning of a trend in which every day became a 'day in Washington,' ultimately leading to the establishment of National 'Yawn' Day—a holiday dedicated to celebrating the sheer monotony of political news.. Fact: Every day is a 'Day in Washington.' Some prefer to call it 'Groundhog Day'—same issues, different year..
• Headline: BOARD DENOUNCED; Its Order to Re-employ Fansteel Strikers Is Held High-Handed LABOR DECISIONS BY 5 TO 2 Reed and Black Dissenters-- Stone With Majority--Frankfurter Takes No Part. Impact: The ruling against the sit-down strike not only changed labor laws but also inspired future generations of strikers to come up with even more creative ways to protest—like holding sit-ins at their favorite coffee shops.. Fact: The U.S. Supreme Court ruling against sit-down strikes made history, but it also made lunch breaks way more complicated for everyone involved..
• Headline: Capitol Sees Labor Act Changes As One of Hopkins Recovery Aims; Plan Held Revealed in Request for Data in Senate Committee's Hands--Hearings Put Off Pending Labor Peace Moves. Impact: This attempt to amend labor laws inadvertently led to a series of misunderstandings that resulted in the invention of the office coffee break—a crucial moment in history that saved countless workers from complete insanity.. Fact: Senate hearings are like a game of telephone—one minute you're discussing labor laws, the next you've lost half the room to a donut debate..
• Headline: 400 on Strike After Sit-Down. Impact: This strike at Bendix Products Corp paved the way for future labor movements, inspiring an entire generation of workers to understand the importance of standing up—or rather, sitting down—for their rights, ultimately leading to the birth of the phrase 'take a seat.'. Fact: In South Bend, Ind, a 400-person sit-down strike might have looked less like a protest and more like an unplanned outdoor picnic. Who needs a permit?.
• Headline: $40,000,000 LOAN ALLOTTED BY CITY; McGoldrick Turns Over Issue of Revenue Bills to Usual Syndicate of 26 Banks. Impact: This massive loan allocation not only fueled city growth but also established a precedent for future city officials to believe they could fund their dreams with bank loans—leading to a bizarre trend of mayors trying to finance their own theme parks.. Fact: Nothing says fiscal responsibility like handing out $40 million in loans. I’m sure the banks were just thrilled to be the city’s BFFs..
• Headline: HANLEY IS ELECTED TO PITCHER'S POST; Defeats Feinberg as Albany Republicans Choose New Senate Floor Leader. Impact: Hanley's victory signaled a shift in the political landscape, leading to a new era of Republicans who think they can actually throw a curveball in politics—spoiler alert: they can’t, but they sure can pitch a fit.. Fact: Elections can be just as exciting as picking a new flavor of ice cream—only with more shouting and less deliciousness..
• Headline: FOR COOPERATIVE HOUSING; National Conference Urges Aid to Moderate-Income Groups. Impact: This push for cooperative housing eventually led to the rise of trendy co-ops that would later become Instagrammable hotspots for hipsters—who knew housing could be so... photogenic?. Fact: If you think cooperative housing is just about sharing space, you clearly haven’t been to a potluck—it's an entire social experiment in awkwardness..
• Headline: $3,930,460 EARNED BY GLASS CONCERN; Libby-Owens-Ford Company's Profit in 1938 Was $1.57 on Each Outstanding Share. Impact: The profitability of this glass company led to an unexpected boom in the glassware industry, inspiring countless failed attempts at DIY glass art—because why not add a little shattered ambition to your home decor?. Fact: Almost $4 million in profit is impressive until you realize you still can’t afford a decent pair of sunglasses in 1938!.