文章基本信息

标题：American chronicles
作者：Alexander, Gary L
期刊名称：Human Events
印刷版ISSN：0018-7194
出版年度：1999
卷号：Oct 15, 1999
出版社：Eagle Publishing

American chronicles

Alexander, Gary L

225 YEARS AGO, OCT. 14,1774, the first Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, passed 10 resolutions, called the "Declarations and Resolves," a wideranging condemnation of British interference in colonial affairs. This Continental Congress, composed of 56 delegates from 12 colonies (excepting Georgia), met from Sept. 5 to Oct. 26, 1774.

On Oct. 19, 1774, residents of Annapolis, Md., inspired by the Boston Tea Party the year before, burned a British vessel in port that was bearing a cargo of tea, the HMS Peggy Stewart.

70 YEARS,AGO, OCT. 24, 1929, or Black Thursday, the Great Crash wag previewed. But that was a small drop, compared to the real crash, Monday, October 28, and "Black Tuesday," October 29. On Monday, the Dow Jones average fell 13.5%, from 301.22, to 260.64. Tuesday was expected to be a recovery day, a normal rise following a crash, but the 30.57-point drop (down 11.7%) on Black Tuesday meant that the market fell more than 71 points (from 301 to 230), or 24%, in the two largest daily-percentage drops in Wall Street history--except Oct. 19, 1987.

60 YEARS AGO, OCT. 1, 1939, in a radio broadcast Winston Churchill said, "I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma."

50 YEARS AGO, OCT 1,1949, was the birthday of the "People's Republic of China," and on Oct. 6, 1949, "East Germany" was technically formed out of the Soviet sector of Germany. Soon after, on October 24, the permanent UN headquarters was dedicated in New York City.

25 YEARS AGO, OCT 3, 1974, the Dow Jones index fell below 600 for the first time in 12 years, closing at 587.61, down from a peak of 1,052 in early 1973. This day also brought the low point for the S&P 500 in the 1970s, but the Dow's bottom-577.60-didn't come until Dec. 6, 1974.

On Oct. 8, 1974, the Franklin National Bank of New York was declared insolvent, the biggest bank failure in U.S. history. On the same day, President Ford urged Americans to "Whip Inflation Now," as he unleashed a series of programs and gimmicks, including "W.I.N." buttons.

20 YEARS AGO, OCT 1-7,1979, Pope John Paul II visited the United States. On October 6, he came to Washington and became the first pope to meet a U.S. President at the White House.