FEBRUARY 7, 1968

Full News Archive

• Headline: Westmoreland's Caution on Combat Raids. Impact: Westmoreland's warning about raids not only escalated the conflict in Vietnam but also triggered a series of questionable fashion choices among military uniforms. The camouflage patterns became increasingly absurd, ultimately inspiring the infamous 'camo chic' trend of the 2000s.. Fact: Did you know that the number of U.S. combat dead exceeded 16,000 in just a couple of years? Meanwhile, reality TV shows were still trying to convince us that drama was only on screen..
• Headline: Boy Scouts Aid Civilian Wounded in Danang. Impact: The Boy Scouts carrying stretchers in Danang inadvertently started a trend where first responders were required to wear merit badges. Kudos to the Scouts for paving the way for future generations of individuals who don’t know how to tie knots but can carry a stretcher like a pro.. Fact: Fun fact: The Boy Scouts were once known for their ability to build fires and tie knots, but clearly, they also excelled in battlefield triage. Who knew they were so versatile?.
• Headline: Collision Incident Explained by US to USSR. Impact: The U.S. note to the USSR about the collision could have sparked the most boring diplomatic conversations in history, eventually leading to the development of 'How to Write a Letter of Apology' workshops for world leaders.. Fact: Did you know that diplomatic notes are basically the polite way of saying, 'Oops, my bad'? Next time you bump into someone at a party, you might as well send them a note!.
• Headline: Newsman in Hue Wounded. Impact: The injury of newsman S. A. Bingham in Hue somehow led to a global increase in the number of journalists wearing helmets, which coincidentally made them look like they were heading to a very intense game of dodgeball.. Fact: Did you know that being a war correspondent is one of the few jobs where you can get shot at and still be expected to file a report? Talk about pressure!.
• Headline: GUARDS STILL FLEE EAST GERMAN ARMY. Impact: The 500th East German soldier escaping to West Berlin led to an unexpected boom in the Berlin Wall tourism industry, where people would pay just to see how many people could escape before lunch.. Fact: Did you know that the East German army had more people trying to escape than the number of people who ever wanted to join it? Maybe they should've offered free coffee instead..
• Headline: THOMPSON CONFERS WITH KOSYGIN AGAIN. Impact: Thompson's repeated conferences with Kosygin were the diplomatic equivalent of sending multiple texts to a friend who hasn't replied yet. Spoiler alert: they still weren't friends by the end of it.. Fact: Did you know that conference calls were just as awkward back then? It's like a group chat where nobody really wants to talk, but everyone's too polite to hang up..
• Headline: Romney Says World Views U. S. As an Aggressor and Imperialist. Impact: Romney's comments about the U.S. being viewed as an aggressor sparked an entire sub-genre of conspiracy theories where people believed that the U.S. was secretly trying to sell lemonade on every corner of the world.. Fact: Did you know that Nixon once tried to convince the world that Vietnam was just an extended vacation? 'Come for the beaches, stay for the conflicts!'.
• Headline: Pope Aids War Victims. Impact: Pope Paul's efforts to aid war victims inadvertently led to the construction of an entire theological debate on whether helping people affected by war counted as community service or a divine calling.. Fact: Did you know that Popes have been known to dabble in humanitarian efforts? It's almost like they have a whole 'do unto others' philosophy or something..
• Headline: Israel Denies Gaza Charge. Impact: Israel denying the UAR charge about mistreatment in Gaza only fueled a long-standing tradition of diplomatic statements that would make great plot twists in soap operas.. Fact: Did you know that diplomatic denials are just like those 'I didn't eat the last cookie' moments? Someone always knows the truth, but the drama is way more fun..