From the founding of iconic publications to the creation of powerful institutions.
96 CE – Nerva Becomes Roman Emperor
Nerva was proclaimed Emperor of Rome, beginning a period of relative peace and stability known as the era of the Five Good Emperors. His ascension to the throne came on the very same day that the tyrannical Emperor Domitian was assassinated in a palace conspiracy. Nerva, an elderly and respected senator who had survived Domitian’s reign of terror, was a safe and popular choice for the Senate. He immediately set a new tone, releasing those imprisoned for treason by Domitian, recalling exiles, and ending the practice of prosecuting individuals for criticizing the emperor.
Historical Context
The reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 CE) was marked by paranoia and autocracy. He executed or exiled many senators and demanded to be addressed as “master and god.” His assassination was orchestrated by court officials who feared for their own lives, and the Senate quickly chose the childless and uncontroversial Nerva to restore order and appease the senatorial class.
Significance
Nerva’s most significant act was his establishment of a new precedent for imperial succession. Lacking a natural heir and needing to secure the loyalty of the powerful Roman army, he formally adopted the respected military commander Trajan as his son and successor. This practice of adopting a qualified and capable heir, rather than relying on blood relatives, was continued by the next three emperors (Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius). This system produced nearly a century of stable governance and prosperity, widely regarded as the golden age of the Roman Empire.
1793 – The U.S. Capitol Cornerstone is Laid
President George Washington laid the cornerstone for the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The ceremony was a grand Masonic event, with Washington, himself a Freemason, presiding over the rituals. After marching from the site of the White House accompanied by local Masonic lodges and military companies, Washington placed an inscribed silver plate under the cornerstone and consecrated it with corn, wine, and oil. The building, designed by William Thornton, was intended to be the permanent home of the U.S. Congress.
Historical Context
Following the Revolutionary War, the U.S. government had convened in several temporary locations, including New York City and Philadelphia. The Residence Act of 1790 established the creation of a new, permanent federal capital on the banks of the Potomac River. French-American engineer Pierre Charles L’Enfant was tasked with designing the new city, and the Capitol was planned as its symbolic and geographic center.
Significance
The laying of the Capitol cornerstone was a hugely symbolic moment for the young American republic. It represented the establishment of a permanent and stable seat of government, embodying the ideals of democracy and the aspirations of the new nation. The Capitol Building would undergo numerous expansions and renovations over the next two centuries, but it has remained the heart of American legislative power and a powerful symbol of American democracy recognized around the world.
1851 – The First Edition of The New-York Daily Times is Published
The first issue of a new newspaper, The New-York Daily Times, was published. It was founded by journalist and politician Henry Jarvis Raymond and former banker George Jones. The first edition was a four-page paper that sold for one cent. The founders aimed to create a newspaper that would avoid sensationalism and focus on reporting the news in a sober, objective, and high-minded manner. In 1896, the paper would be purchased by Adolph Ochs, who introduced the famous slogan, “All the News That’s Fit to Print,” and shortened the paper’s name to The New York Times.
Historical Context
The mid-19th century was the era of “penny press” journalism in New York City, a fiercely competitive market dominated by sensationalist and politically partisan newspapers. Raymond and Jones saw an opportunity to appeal to a more conservative and educated readership that desired thoughtful, impartial reporting on politics, commerce, and the arts.
Significance
From its founding, The New York Times set a high standard for journalism. Over the next century and a half, it would grow to become the United States’ “newspaper of record” and one of the most respected and influential news organizations in the world. Its commitment to in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and international coverage has shaped public opinion and documented the course of modern history.
1947 – The National Security Act Takes Effect
The National Security Act of 1947, a landmark piece of legislation that reorganized the U.S. military and intelligence agencies, officially went into effect. The act, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in July, was a direct response to the lessons learned during World War II and the emerging threat of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The act merged the Department of War and the Department of the Navy into a new National Military Establishment, headed by a civilian Secretary of Defense.
Historical Context
World War II had revealed major shortcomings in the coordination between the different branches of the U.S. military. As the post-war world saw the rise of the Soviet Union and the beginning of the Cold War, U.S. leaders recognized the need for a more unified and permanent national security apparatus to manage the new global challenges and the threat of nuclear warfare.
Significance
The National Security Act of 1947 fundamentally reshaped the U.S. government and created the core institutions that would define American foreign and defense policy for the rest of the 20th century. In addition to creating the Department of Defense, it established the United States Air Force as a separate branch of the military, the National Security Council (NSC) to advise the president, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), America’s first peacetime intelligence agency.
1961 – UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld is Killed
Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, was killed in a plane crash in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). He was on a peace mission, attempting to broker a ceasefire in the Congo Crisis, a complex civil war involving secessionist movements and Cold War proxy conflicts. The plane carrying Hammarskjöld and 15 others crashed in a remote forest as it approached the airport in Ndola. There were no survivors.
Historical Context
The Congo Crisis was a major international challenge for the newly independent African nation and for the United Nations. Hammarskjöld was a highly respected and proactive Secretary-General who had developed the concept of UN peacekeeping. He was personally invested in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which had drawn in mercenaries and the interests of major world powers.
Significance
Dag Hammarskjöld’s death was a profound blow to the United Nations and the cause of international diplomacy. He is widely regarded as one of the most effective Secretary-Generals in the organization’s history, and he was posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961. The exact cause of the crash has been the subject of numerous investigations and persistent conspiracy theories, with some evidence suggesting the plane may have been shot down. His death remains a somber and controversial event in the history of the Cold War.
