This Day in History

Sept 26

1960 TV for Prez

First ever presidential TV debates airs. Kennedy beats Nixon in general election, some say because Nixon's tragic TV presence came off like a corpse having a nervous breakdown.

Sept 27

1964 Just a patsy

Warren Commission report released, claims "there was no conspiracy in the assassination" of JFK. Disbelievers over next half century carry out the largest conspiracy witch hunt ever until YouTubers meet 9/11.

Sept 28

1941/1960 Splendid Splinter day

With a season .400 batting average at stake, slugger Ted Williams does ultimate gut check and refuses to sit down last game. Goes 6 for 8 to finish a .406 hitter. Same day, different year, in 1960 ends his career with a home run.

Sept 29

1977 Lady in the ring

Most-watched prize fight in the history of boxing (Ali vs. Shavers) was held at NYC's Madison Square Garden, watched by 70 mil on TV. Officiated by the first woman referee to ever enforce a heavyweight title match.

Sept 30

1889 Inching towards "We"

Wildly progressive, liberal state of...Wyoming(?) is first state to offer women the franchise. Previously "We the people" meant male, white folk. (It took 30 years for the feds to catch up with the 19th amendment.)

Oct 1

1908 Cheap ride!

Henry Ford introduced the first ever assembly line-made car, the Model T. The T sold for $825, which is about how much you'd expect to pay today for a beater Civic or anything that still says "Datson" on it.

Oct 2

1939 Bring the bomb

Staunch peace activator Albert Einstein, having confirmed with fellow physicists that indeed an atomic boomer could considerably be made, urges FDR to get down on it and build a bomb before Germany does.