SEPTEMBER 21, 1948

Full News Archive

• Headline: General Huebner Appeals for Troop Commitment. Impact: Lt Gen Huebner's request for troops to extend their enlistments led to an unexpected boom in recruiting ads featuring 'Stay in the Army, it's not just a job, it's an adventure!' This shifted military culture forever and led to the creation of the Army's infamous slogan: 'Be all you can be, unless you want to be a civilian.'. Fact: Did you know that the Army once considered a recruitment campaign that featured puppies? Spoiler: It didn't go well..
• Headline: U.S. Oil Executives Arrested in Hungary. Impact: The arrest of two U.S. oil executives in Hungary triggered a series of international oil crises, which eventually led to the invention of the world's first 'Oil Monopoly Game' where players could experience the thrill of corporate sabotage without leaving their living rooms.. Fact: Fun fact: The real-life version of Monopoly was almost called 'Oilopoly.' It was too complicated, so they went with the simpler version instead..
• Headline: Cripps Advocates Economic Solutions in Ottawa. Impact: Cripps' arrival in Ottawa set off a chain reaction of financial discussions that eventually led to the bizarre phenomenon of politicians becoming overly fond of PowerPoint presentations. The trend continues today, with slides that contain more clip art than substance.. Fact: Ever notice that the longer a politician talks, the more likely they are to use phrases like 'moving forward'? It's a secret code for 'I have no idea what I'm talking about.'.
• Headline: KILLED BY BALL MATE HIT; Mrs. Joseph Welch of Binghamton Victim of Golfing Accident. Impact: Mrs. Joseph Welch's tragic golfing accident led to an increase in safety regulations on golf courses. Ironically, this made golf even less appealing to the general public, paving the way for the rise of couch sports like competitive eating.. Fact: Golf is the only sport where you can wear plaid pants and still be considered a professional. Go figure!.
• Headline: h)0*0*0*iWALLACE AND WIFE GET LITERACY TEST; Both Qualify as Voters at Court House in White Plains -- 300 Await Speech in Vain. Impact: Wallace's literacy test qualification sparked a national debate about voting rights that eventually led to a redefinition of what it means to be 'qualified' to vote. Spoiler alert: it had nothing to do with reading.. Fact: In some states, the ability to recite the alphabet backwards was once required to vote. Imagine the chaos that would ensue at polling places!.
• Headline: HOPEFUL OF AMITY; Governor in Des Moines Asks 'Unceasing Labor' for World Accord. Impact: Governor Dewey's call for 'unceasing labor' for world accord inadvertently inspired future politicians to use buzzwords like 'synergy' and 'collaboration,' ultimately leading to the creation of the most cringe-worthy team-building retreats known to humankind.. Fact: There are actually studies showing that the more buzzwords a politician uses, the less they accomplish. It’s like a magic trick, but sadder..
• Headline: Soviet Plans German Force Of 100,000 Men in Its Zone; A GERMAN MILITIA PLANNED BY SOVIET. Impact: The Soviet plan to create a German militia of 100,000 men not only escalated the Cold War tensions but also inspired a series of spy novels featuring 'mysterious militias' that were more fiction than fact, leading to a boom in the spy fiction genre.. Fact: The first spy novel was written in 1901, but it didn't feature nearly enough secret agents with cool gadgets. Clearly, they missed a marketing opportunity!.
• Headline: MINISTERS CONFER; Marshall, Schuman and Bevin Talk Over Next Move in Stalemate. Impact: The ministers' conference about the Berlin crisis inadvertently sparked the creation of diplomatic conferences, which are now mandatory in every political drama. Thanks to this meeting, we now have entire seasons of shows filled with 'high-stakes negotiations' that lead nowhere.. Fact: The phrase 'let's table this' was invented during one of these meetings and is now synonymous with 'we're really not going to talk about this ever again.'.