FEBRUARY 4, 1963

Full News Archive

• Headline: Congress Fights to Keep Admiral Rickover. Impact: Had Congress not intervened, Rickover’s retirement could have led to a catastrophic shortage of nuclear enthusiasm, resulting in an entire generation of children believing that nuclear power was just a myth, like Bigfoot or the Bermuda Triangle.. Fact: Rickover was known as the 'Father of the Nuclear Navy' and basically ran the show like a drill sergeant; imagine turning in your homework late to this guy!.
• Headline: Jersey G.O.P. Weighs Rockefeller's Support. Impact: If Rockefeller had been fully backed, we might have dodged some truly wild political escapades. Instead, we got to witness the birth of a reality show called 'Elections in America'.. Fact: Rockefeller’s wealth was so enormous that if he had a dollar for every time someone in Jersey said 'Who?', he still wouldn’t have run out of money!.
• Headline: Cuba's Strategic Alliance with the USSR. Impact: With the USSR building up Cuba, this would eventually lead to a decade of high-stakes chess matches in politics, along with a notorious increase in cigar sales worldwide. Thanks, Fidel!. Fact: Cuban cigars were so good that even President Kennedy famously ordered a stash before his embargo; talk about diplomatic priorities!.
• Headline: Advertising: TV and Print Use Abroad; Appeal of Television. Impact: This led to the world's obsession with advertising, resulting in the birth of infomercials and an entire generation convinced that a blender could solve all their problems.. Fact: In the future, people will watch ads about products they don't need while munching on snacks they shouldn't eat. Circle of life?.
• Headline: The Minuteman Missile Gives a Boost to the Economy in North Dakota. Impact: The sudden influx of missile-related jobs turned North Dakota into a booming hub of economic activity, eventually leading to a state full of people who could tell you all about missiles but not much else.. Fact: North Dakota: home to missiles and a surprising number of cows. Guess which one gets more attention?.
• Headline: French Mission in Madrid May Seek Military Bases; Focus on Canary Islands Interest in Uranium. Impact: If the French had secured those military bases, who knows? We might have had a French-speaking military base in the Canary Islands, complete with pastry rations and a strict 'no berets' policy.. Fact: The French love their uranium almost as much as they love a good cheese platter. Just don’t ask them to share!.
• Headline: Old Prejudices in Paris Bar an Early Return to Cordial Relations; British-French Ties Expected To Remain Thin for Long Time Some Sympathizers Diplomats' Conviction. Impact: These old prejudices not only delayed relations but also laid the groundwork for the 'friendly rivalry' that would define British and French interactions for decades, including a lot of snarky comments about each other’s cuisine.. Fact: The British and French have been bickering for centuries, proving that some things never change—like the British calling French food 'too fancy' while secretly loving it..
• Headline: IRE OVER RUSSIANS IN CUBA GROWING; Stennis Asserts U.S. May Insist Soviet Move Forces --Curb on Ships Likely IRE OVER RUSSIANS IN CUBA GROWING Thurmond Gives View. Impact: The growing ire marked the beginning of a complex geopolitical dance that would lead to decades of tension, diplomatic debacles, and the occasional 'let's all just chill' summit.. Fact: This situation was so tense that even the birds flying over Cuba had to take a detour to avoid getting caught in the crossfire of political sniping!.