MAY 31, 1973

Full News Archive

• Headline: US Warplanes Support Mekong River Convoy. Impact: US warplanes aiding convoys? No big deal, just a little friendly air support that would eventually lead to a series of misunderstandings and military interventions that could fill a library. Thanks, 1970s!. Fact: They say the Mekong is one of the longest rivers in Southeast Asia. It's also a great place to get stuck in a military engagement that could've been avoided..
• Headline: The Outrage of Wiretaps. Impact: The outrage over wiretaps sparked a revolution of privacy advocacy, leading to the invention of the phrase 'Big Brother is watching you.' Because who doesn’t love a good conspiracy theory?. Fact: Wiretapping was once a method to catch spies, but now it’s just a way for nosy neighbors to stay informed about your dinner plans..
• Headline: Gallup Says Connally Trails Kennedy in Poll on '76. Impact: Connally trailing Kennedy in polls? This moment could be considered the butterfly that flapped its wings and caused the future to be filled with political debates and late-night talk show jokes about who’s a better candidate.. Fact: Polls are just fancy ways of saying, 'We’re guessing who you might vote for!' It’s like a popularity contest, but with higher stakes and fewer cheerleaders..
• Headline: Survey Urges an Overhaul of Court Procedure Here. Impact: The call for an overhaul of court procedure might have seemed small at the time, but it led to endless debates about jury duty that still haunt 18-year-olds today. Congratulations, you’re an adult—now go serve!. Fact: Jury duty: the only time you’ll be asked to participate in democracy while secretly wishing you could just binge-watch Netflix instead..
• Headline: Arabs Plan Meeting on Oil. Impact: The Arab meeting on oil was basically the beginning of some very tense negotiations that would impact global economics for decades. Who knew just chatting about oil could lead to so much drama?. Fact: Oil: the black gold that has caused more conflict than a high school cafeteria food fight over the last slice of pizza..