Utah’s Zion National Park, established 99 years ago today, is one of the most visited national parks in the US. It’s full of amazing southwest scenery, including Zion Canyon. Our photo today shows The Narrows, a trail through the tightest gap in the canyon. Roughly one-third of The Narrows is under the waters of the Virgin River. For portions of the hike, the river fills up the passage, from wall to wall, leaving hikers no choice but to wade in and keep walking—not an unwelcome prospect on a hot day, even in November.
(1985) Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev meet for first timeAt a summit in Geneva, Switzerland, the US president and Soviet leader discuss the nuclear arms race and diplomatic relations. It had been several years since leaders from the two superpowers had met, but Reagan and Gorbachev will establish a personal rapport that will help thaw the Cold War.The Geneva Summit of 1985 was a Cold War-era meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. It was held on November 19 and 20, 1985, between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. The two leaders met for the first time to hold talks on international diplomatic relations and the arms race. Reagan and Gorbachev at the Geneva Summit in 1985 wiki/Geneva_Summit_(1985)4.15.A18
(1985) Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev meet for first time. Also on this day,
1863 | US President Abraham Lincoln delivers a stirring memorial speech with Gettysburg Address
In a two-minute speech, Lincoln captures why he thinks the Union must win the Civil War — not just to save the nation but to deliver equality to all men, a “new birth of freedom,” as he puts it. He delivers this address at the dedication of a cemetery at the site of one of war’s the bloodiest battles.
1919 | ‘Place of refuge’ as Zion National Park established
President Woodrow Wilson signs a bill establishing Zion (named Zion National Monument the previous year) as Utah’s first national park. The designation will lead to infrastructure improvements, including the Zion Mount Carmel Highway, increasing accessibility and tourism.
1959 | It’s over for the Edsel as Ford announces that it’s stopping production
It’s the end of the line for the Edsel, the Ford Motor Co. car named after Henry Ford’s son, known for his elegant style. Despite its hyped introduction, the Edsel has been ridiculed for its horse-collar grill—aka the toilet seat grill (the jokes got cruder from there). ‘Edsel’ will become a byword for failure.
(1977) Egypt's Anwar Sadat is first Arab leader to visit IsraelThe Egyptian president meets with Prime Minister Menachem Begin. On the trip, he will also speak at the Knesset on how the two countries can achieve peace. Sadat will go on to win the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize, with Begin, for their efforts to stabilize the Middle East.The Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty was signed in Washington, D.C., United States on 26 March 1979, following the 1978 Camp David Accords. The Egypt–Israel treaty was signed by Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin, and witnessed by United States president Jimmy Carter.
Menachem Begin, Jimmy Carter and Anwar Sadat at Camp David, 1978.
