AUGUST 3, 1969

Full News Archive

• Headline: Liberal Democrats Push for Tax Revisions. Impact: The push for middle-level tax cuts resulted in a generation of tax accountants with the ability to perform mental gymnastics that would make Olympians jealous. Meanwhile, the rich just continued to find new loopholes.. Fact: Fun fact: Tax cuts are like diets; everyone talks about them, but few actually stick to them..
• Headline: Mayor Lindsay Backs Morgenthau's Retention. Impact: Morgenthau's support from the mayor, which was kept under wraps, created a butterfly effect of indecisiveness in political support that still echoes today. Turns out, being vague is a time-honored tradition in politics.. Fact: Did you know that political support is often like a secret: everyone knows about it, but no one wants to admit it?.
• Headline: Nixon's Asian Doctrine. Impact: Nixon's Asian Doctrine led to a series of diplomatic relationships that were as stable as a house of cards in a windstorm. But hey, at least it meant more Asian cuisine options in the White House.. Fact: Did you know that Nixon's foreign policy could be summarized as 'Let’s just wing it'? Good strategy, right?.
• Headline: Foreign Affairs: Pompidou: I -- Allies. Impact: Pompidou's role in French-US relations laid the groundwork for future diplomatic dinners that would serve more than just breadsticks; think awkward small talk and a side of mistrust.. Fact: Did you know that diplomatic dinners are just like family reunions, but with more formal wear and fewer potato salads?.
• Headline: Seeing the shape of things to come -- a half-mad gift sprung from an overweening libido; H. G. Wells. Impact: H.G. Wells' turbulent life inspired countless sci-fi writers to create time-travel plots that are now the backbone of lazy screenwriting. Thanks, Wells, for paving the way for all those 'what if?' scenarios.. Fact: Did you know that H.G. Wells predicted the future so well that he probably should have just moonlighted as a fortune teller?.
• Headline: PRAGUE SAYS SPIES FLOURISHED IN 1968. Impact: The accusations of spies flourishing in Prague during '68 led to a lifetime of paranoia that made every tourist feel like they were being watched. Spoiler: they probably were, but mostly just by pigeons.. Fact: Did you know that the term 'spy' has been around so long that it should probably come with a loyalty card for all the times it's been misused?.
• Headline: Nerve Gas Opposed. Impact: The opposition to nerve gas stockpiling sparked debates that echoed through history, leading to modern-day discussions about ethical warfare. Sometimes, being against something means you're actually for something else.. Fact: Did you know that the only thing more toxic than nerve gas is the debate about it?.