Thursday, November 8, 2007 – Perhaps the most optimistic thing we can say about this sordid string of items, is that it tends to put today’s horrors in perspective.

1994—Under the leadership of serial philanderer Newt Gingrich, the Republican Party gains control of Congress.

1983—Moscow puts its nuclear forces on high alert and sends flash telegrams to its embassies warning that a nuclear strike on the U.S.S.R. may come at any time.

1974—Richard Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, disappears without a trace, leaving a dead nanny behind.

1966—Bonzo the Chimp’s former co-star Ronald Reagan is elected Governor of Calif.

1966—The first black U.S. Senator in 85 years, Edward Brooke (Mass.) is elected.

1932—Socialist Norman Thomas gets nearly 900,000 votes for President.

1923—Disgruntled corporal A. Hitler, with help from disgruntled general E. von Ludendorff, stages the “Beer Hall Putsch” in Munich.

1897—Birth of Dorothy Day, anarchist and founder of Catholic Worker.

1876—The managing editor of The New York Times and the chairman of the Republican National Committee conspire to bribe election officials in Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana to “elect” Hayes president.