Becky Little Archives

How the Great Cranberry Scare of 1959 Set Off a Thanksgiving Panic

On November 9, 1959—just two‑and‑a‑half weeks before Thanksgiving—the U.S. secretary of Health, Education and Welfare made a startling announcement: some cranberries grown in the Pacific Northwest may have been contaminated by a weed killer that could lead to cancer in rats. This meant that cranberry sauce, a popular staple of Thanksgiving dinners, might not be […]

The 18th‑Century Origins of Recess Appointments

When cross‑country travel by horse prevented senators from quickly convening, the Framers decided to allow the president to make temporary appointments.

7 Photos of London’s Underground During WWII Blitz

As Hitler bombed London, its citizens set up makeshift beds in rail cars, on escalators and even in tunnels to get a night’s sleep.

How ‘Nosferatu’ Reinvented the Vampire

While the 1897 novel ‘Dracula’ launched a genre of literature and film about vampires, a 1922 knock‑off film cast the villain in a whole new light.

Hurricane Science: Key Advances in Tracking the Deadly Storms

The first recorded hurricane forecast was issued by a Jesuit priest in 1875. A series of critical tools have since refined the science.

When the 1824 Presidential Election Ended in an Electoral Tie, Controversy Ensued

After the tied election went to the House of Representatives, an anonymous letter accused two of the candidates of making a ‘corrupt bargain.’

Who Invented the Dishwasher?

Josephine Garis Cochran had no formal mechanical engineering education, but she designed, built, marketed and sold her dishwashing machine back in the 1880s.

Who Were the Mafia’s ‘Five Families’?

In 1931, a Commission of crime families began running New York City rackets, initiating an era of colorful nicknames and violent power struggles.

How Presidential Polling Got Its Start

The first modern U.S. presidential poll was a 1936 Gallup survey. But informal straw polls started much earlier.

7 Quirky—and Discontinued —Summer Olympic Events

Some of the oddball Olympic events of the past include hot air balloon racing, tug of war and painting contests.

The Plane Crash That Killed JFK Jr.

In 1999, the son of the famous president died, along with his wife, Carolyn Bessette‑Kennedy, and her sister Lauren Bessette, when the plane JFK Jr. was piloting crashed into the ocean.

When Young Ancient Greek Women Raced at Olympia

Like the Olympic Games, the Heraia race was held every four years, likely as part of a prenuptial initiation ritual.