FEBRUARY 26, 1957

Full News Archive

• Headline: Eisenhower Honors British Artist Nicholson. Impact: Little did they know that awarding a Guggenheim to a British painter would eventually lead to a worldwide obsession with minimalist art, creating a black hole of confusion for future art students who couldn't figure out why a blank canvas was worth millions. Fact: The Guggenheim Foundation has funded more artists than you can shake a paintbrush at, yet most people still think the only Guggenheim is the one in New York. Surprise!.
• Headline: New U.S. Ambassadors Appointed in 1957. Impact: By naming ambassadors to these countries, President Eisenhower inadvertently set off a series of diplomatic faux pas, including the great 'Who forgot to RSVP?' incident at the Paris Peace Talks. Fact: The Senate GOP getting stirred up is basically like watching a toddler throw a tantrum over a cookie—entertaining but ultimately pointless.
• Headline: Library Files on L.I. Scattered by Vandals. Impact: This vandalism incident led to a chain reaction of library security measures that resulted in the invention of the modern book lock, forever changing how we view access to literature. Thanks, vandals!. Fact: Libraries used to be places of knowledge and tranquility, not crime scenes. If only those vandals had picked up a book instead!.
• Headline: HIGH COURT VOIDS OBSCENE-BOOK ACT; Michigan's Law Designed to Protect Children Is Called Curb on Adult's Liberty Frankfurter Writes Opinion HIGH COURT VOIDS OBSCENE-BOOK ACT. Impact: The voiding of the Obscene-Book Act triggered a literary revolution where authors felt free to write whatever they wanted, leading to an explosion of questionable novels that may or may not be found in your grandmother's attic. Fact: The Supreme Court has a history of getting involved in debates about obscenity, which is just their way of saying 'We're bored; let's stir the pot.'.
• Headline: BRITAIN ACTS ON STRIKES; Seeks to Avert Walkouts By Doctors and in Auto Plant. Impact: Macmillan's attempts to avert strikes would lead to a dramatic increase in labor negotiations, resulting in future politicians using 'let's not strike' as a campaign slogan. Fact: Strikes have a way of making everyone involved feel like they're in a dramatic soap opera, complete with cliffhangers and dramatic music.
• Headline: Gas Is Struck Upstate On Seneca Reservation. Impact: The discovery of gas on the Seneca Reservation ignited a frenzy that would eventually lead to the energy crisis of the 1970s, because nothing says 'good idea' like drilling for fossil fuels near a reservation. Fact: Gas discoveries are like finding a surprise chocolate bar in your pocket—exciting until you realize it comes with a lot of baggage.
• Headline: Hagerty Chooses Aide. Impact: Hagerty's choice of aide would ultimately lead to a cascading series of aides who would all try to one-up each other, resulting in a future where aides had more power than the officials they served. Fact: Aides often have the power to make or break a politician's day—kind of like a coffee shop barista but with more paperwork and less caffeine.