JANUARY 14, 1975

Full News Archive

• Headline: Ford's Tax Rebate Proposal for 1974. Impact: This rebate plan made tax season slightly less painful for those earning over $40k. However, it also set off a chain reaction of people suddenly realizing they were just above that threshold and desperately trying to figure out how to lower their taxable income—cue the rise of questionable tax deductions and creative accounting.. Fact: In 1974, the average American was still trying to figure out how to use a microwave, but the government was busy planning tax rebates. Priorities, right?.
• Headline: Supreme Court Revokes Liddy's Bail. Impact: Liddy's bail being revoked was like pulling a thread on a sweater; it unraveled the Watergate scandal further, leading to a whole lot of people realizing that maybe breaking into political offices isn't the best way to win friends and influence people.. Fact: G. Gordon Liddy once famously said he would have done anything to protect the presidency—even if it meant taking a bullet. Apparently, getting caught wasn't part of the plan..
• Headline: Jane Alpert Sentenced for Bombing Conspiracy. Impact: Jane Alpert's sentencing for bombing conspiracy added to the already bubbling cauldron of anti-war sentiment in the U.S. But it also made it clear that being a fugitive is hard work, and there are no vacation days.. Fact: Alpert turned herself in after four years of hiding, proving that even the most radical of activists can't outrun the consequences of their actions—or the IRS..
• Headline: SCHLESINGER SEES FEW C.I.A LAPSES. Impact: Schlesinger's nonchalant attitude toward CIA misdemeanors revealed a culture of complacency that would haunt the agency for years. It’s almost like they thought no one would notice if they just kept things under wraps.. Fact: The CIA's 'misdemeanors' could fill a book, but let's just say if they had a 'most wanted' list for questionable ethics, it would be a bestseller..
• Headline: House Democrats Vote for Abolition Of Anti‐Red Panel. Impact: The abolition of the anti-Red panel was a significant shift in political strategy, as anti-Communist fervor began to wane. This led to a gradual acceptance of diverse political ideologies, albeit with a side of paranoia that lingered for decades.. Fact: For 45 years, the anti-Red panel was like that one relative at family gatherings who just wouldn’t stop talking about how the world was going to end due to communism—finally, they were shown the door!.
• Headline: Rizzo Expected to Win Philadelphia Primary. Impact: Rizzo's strong position in the Philly primary showed that sometimes, being a heavy favorite means more than just having a good campaign strategy—sometimes it’s about knowing where all the bodies are buried (figuratively, of course).. Fact: Frank Rizzo's campaign was so strong that if he had run against a rubber chicken, folks might have still voted for him. Elections are funny that way..
• Headline: ONE SENATE SEAT REMAINS UNFILLED. Impact: The Senate seat remaining unfilled was a classic case of political limbo that led to a delay in decision-making, ultimately causing a few more gray hairs among those still waiting for something—anything—to happen.. Fact: The only thing more embarrassing than a vacant Senate seat is realizing that it sat empty while everyone else was busy trying to figure out how to look busy..