SEPTEMBER 20, 1951

Full News Archive

• Headline: Connelly's Nomination Secured Despite Challenge. Impact: Connelly's victory became the cornerstone for a future where city judges would be known for their questionable attire and even more questionable decisions, leading to a series of court cases that made for excellent reality TV.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'City Judge' is just fancy talk for 'I have a gavel and a caffeine addiction'?.
• Headline: FCC Denies Request on Wire Rate Increase. Impact: The FCC's rejection of the plea sparked a series of events that ultimately led to the invention of the 'Angry Letter,' a form of communication that would dominate American households for decades.. Fact: Fun fact: The acronym FCC stands for 'Federal Complainers Club'—membership is free, but the complaints cost you!.
• Headline: Jet Engine Workers Strike. Impact: The strike at Pratt & Whitney was the catalyst for an entire decade of workers realizing that they could, in fact, ask for more than just a 'thank you' with their paychecks, leading to the creation of a new superhero: 'The Negotiator.'. Fact: Did you know that striking workers can actually lead to better pay? Who knew standing around with picket signs could be so lucrative?.
• Headline: Lost U.S. Plane Is Sighted. Impact: The sighting of the lost U.S. plane became the stuff of legends, inspiring an entire genre of 'lost treasure' films that had absolutely nothing to do with the plane itself, but everything to do with 'finding oneself.'. Fact: Did you know that Neptune bombers were not named after the planet but rather after the god of lost causes?.
• Headline: EISENHOWER URGES MORE ALLIED UNITY; Says Politicians Have Not Done 'Good Job'--Hails Troops' Cooperation in War Games Said to Refer to Europe Cooperation Called Vital. Impact: Eisenhower's call for unity among allies inadvertently led to a series of awkward dinners with world leaders, where they realized they had nothing in common except a shared disdain for politicians.. Fact: Did you know that Eisenhower was known for his love of golf? Because nothing says 'unity' like a round of 18 holes with your political rivals!.
• Headline: Rail Pension Aid Bill Gains. Impact: The Rail Pension Aid Bill paved the way for the modern pension system, which now includes a lifetime supply of 'I can't believe I worked for this' coffee mugs.. Fact: Did you know that pensions were originally designed so retirees wouldn’t have to work at Wal-Mart? Thanks, Congress!.
• Headline: To Aid Federation Drive. Impact: The Federation Drive became the template for all future 'drives'—from cookie drives to charity drives—proving that if you add 'drive' to the end of anything, people will show up with wallets.. Fact: Did you know that 'drive' in this context means 'let's get together to awkwardly ask for money?'.
• Headline: 'Dixieland' O'Donnell Dies. Impact: The passing of 'Dixieland' O'Donnell sparked a musical renaissance that caused a brief resurgence in jazz, leading to the invention of the 'jazzercise' movement decades later.. Fact: Did you know that 'Dixieland' was not just a musical genre but also a state of mind, often achieved with a banjo and a questionable hat?.