JANUARY 11, 1960

Full News Archive

• Headline: VA Takes Action Against Housing Discrimination. Impact: The end of bias in home resales may have inadvertently led to a greater appreciation for avocado toast, as people started moving to hip neighborhoods instead of the cookie-cutter suburbs. Fact: The VA's efforts to combat discrimination in home sales may have been the original blueprint for future reality TV shows about house flipping.
• Headline: Erlander's Historic Return from South Asia. Impact: Erlander's return from his trip might have sparked the idea that world leaders should take vacations more often—after all, who knew diplomacy could include beach time?. Fact: Sweden has a long history of neutrality, but I'm sure Erlander was just dying to show off his new tan.
• Headline: SYMINGTON SAYS HE WANTS THE JOB; ' I Certainly Would Like to Be President,' Senator States -- Bars Active Campaign ' I Would Like to Be President,' Symington Says; Bars Primaries. Impact: Symington's desire to be president likely set off a chain of events leading to every senator thinking they could run for office, which ultimately resulted in an endless cycle of political debates and campaign commercials. Fact: When Symington said he wanted the job, he probably didn’t realize that 'I would like to be President' translates to 'Please send me campaign money!'.
• Headline: DELAWARE TAKES STRIDE FORWARD; Flocking of New Industry to State Is Significant -- Employment High. Impact: Delaware's new industry influx might just be the real reason for the state’s popularity—turns out, people really do enjoy living where the jobs are, who would have guessed?. Fact: Delaware is often called 'The First State'—not because of its history, but because it was the first to realize that tax incentives could attract businesses.
• Headline: Massachusetts Cities Act to Lure New Industries Through Tax Aid; One Sets Up a Factory Park and Marine Terminal as Inducements. Impact: Massachusetts' attempt to lure new industries with tax aid likely made other states question their own lack of tax breaks, leading to a nationwide competition of who could give away the most money for the least commitment. Fact: Massachusetts: where tax breaks are the new 'Welcome to the Neighborhood' gift.
• Headline: PENTAGON STUDY TO MINIMIZE FEAR OVER MISSILE GAP; Will Say Soviet Would Need Hundreds of ICBMs to Destroy One U.S. Base PENTAGON TO HIT MISSILE-GAP FEAR MRS. GROSSINGER CITED 800 Pay $100 a Plate to Help Medical Center in Israel. Impact: The Pentagon's study to minimize missile gap fears may have inadvertently led to an increased interest in conspiracy theories—because, you know, who doesn’t love a good 'secret military project' story?. Fact: The Pentagon’s studies are so comprehensive that they could probably tell you how many times a cat has meowed in the last decade!.
• Headline: TAX RELIEF HOPES FOR 1960 FADING; White House Concentration On Applying Surplus, If Any, to Debt-Cutting. Impact: The fading hopes for tax relief may have set off a chain reaction of people trying to budget better, leading to a nationwide obsession with couponing that still haunts us today. Fact: The only thing more disappointing than fading tax relief hopes is realizing that your favorite coupon for 50 cents off is expired.
• Headline: TRUMAN SUGGESTS BIP ARTISAN STAND; Wants Congress Leaders of Both Parties to Attend Next Summit Talk TRUMAN SUGGESTS BIPARTISAN STAND. Impact: Truman's bipartisan suggestion could be seen as the first indication that politicians should actually work together—an idea that echoes painfully through time as we wonder if they ever will. Fact: Truman was such a proponent of cooperation that he probably threw the best bipartisan BBQs—too bad no one showed up with the potato salad.