SEPTEMBER 30, 1949

Full News Archive

• Headline: Mass Surrender of Souvenir Weapons. Impact: The mass surrender of souvenir weapons led to a global trend of people trading in their outdated weapons for artisanal coffee mugs. Little did they know, this would spark a caffeine-fueled revolution of peaceful protests, where people held up their mugs, demanding rights with a side of latte.. Fact: In the spirit of weaponry, the most dangerous thing in a souvenir shop is, ironically, the ceramic coffee mug – especially when dropped!.
• Headline: Westinghouse Appoints Atomic Power Director. Impact: Dr. C.M. Slack’s appointment to the atomic power division inadvertently kickstarted a secret society of scientists who believed they could use atomic power to create the perfect cup of coffee. Spoiler: it didn’t end well.. Fact: Westinghouse didn't just make electric appliances. They also invented the phrase, 'Is it plugged in?' for when you’re trying to fix something..
• Headline: Fair Deal Victories in '50, '52 Seen by a Confident Truman; FAIR DEAL VICTORY SEEN BY PRESIDENT. Impact: Truman's confidence in the Fair Deal ultimately encouraged future presidents to promise the moon while delivering the bare minimum, creating a political legacy of unmet expectations that would last for decades.. Fact: Truman's Fair Deal was so ambitious that it made the New Deal look like a garage sale – minus the good deals..
• Headline: HANLEY WOULD CURB SPEECH OF U. S. FOES. Impact: Hanley’s desire to curb speech among U.S. foes led to the invention of a magical device that only the government could use to silence dissenting opinions, which eventually turned out to be just a really loud air horn.. Fact: Senator Dulles attended more meetings than a cat has lives, and yet somehow, he never seemed to get anything done..
• Headline: 'GAG RULE' FOUGHT ON SOCIAL SECURITY; Administration Opposed Before Rules Group in House Drive for Passage Unchanged. Impact: The fight against the 'Gag Rule' resulted in the creation of an underground network of lawmakers who would pass notes to each other in the bathroom stalls to keep the bill alive. It was a legislative soap opera that no one wanted to watch.. Fact: Closed rules in Congress are like closed doors at a party – nobody knows what’s happening inside, but it’s probably not good..
• Headline: ROWAN PAINTINGS PUT ON EXHIBITION; Water-Colors of Local Street Scenes at RoKo Gallery -- Other Displays Noted. Impact: Rowan’s art exhibition inadvertently inspired future generations to consider painting as a viable career, leading to a wave of starving artists who lived off ramen noodles and dreams.. Fact: The RoKo Gallery was so hip that even the walls had their own Instagram accounts..
• Headline: STATE LABOR JOINS TO ELECT LEHMAN; Leaders Believe His Victory Will Help in Fight to Repeal Taft-Hartley Act. Impact: Lehman’s election was the first step in an intricate web of backroom deals and political maneuvering that eventually led to the invention of the phrase ‘politics as usual’, which is basically code for ‘we have no idea what we’re doing’.. Fact: The Taft-Hartley Act was so contentious that it could have won a reality TV show for 'Most Dramatic Legislation'..