On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln stood before a battered but still-standing nation, ready to take on round two as President of the United States. The Civil War was limping toward its conclusion and Lincoln delivered an address that would go down as one of the greatest in history. With a little poetic optimism, he called for a nation “with malice toward none, with charity for all.” Given that half the country had spent the past four years trying to destroy the other half, this was a pretty big ask.

Unbeknownst to Lincoln, standing somewhere in the crowd, soaking in the moment, was John Wilkes Booth—a well-known actor and devoted Confederate sympathizer. Booth had front-row seats to history, but instead of being moved by Lincoln’s appeal for unity, he was apparently taking mental notes for his own tragic finale. It’s the kind of eerie historical coincidence that would feel too on-the-nose if it were fiction.

Unfortunately, Lincoln’s second term barely got started before Booth took action. Just 41 days later, on April 14, Booth snuck into Ford’s Theatre and cut Lincoln’s presidency short with a single gunshot. While the nation reeled, Booth briefly imagined himself as some kind of heroic avenger. Spoiler alert: history did not see it that way. Instead of being remembered as a noble defender of the South, he became the mustache-twirling villain of American history.

And yet, Lincoln’s words from that inaugural day outlived both men. His call for reconciliation still stands as one of the most powerful pleas for unity ever uttered. Meanwhile, Booth’s presence in that crowd is a haunting footnote—a reminder that history’s greatest moments often have darkness lurking just out of frame, waiting for the worst possible moment to step into the spotlight.

On March 4, 1974, Mia Farrow—fresh off The Great Gatsby and presumably tired of explaining Rosemary’s Baby to strangers—became the first-ever cover star of People magazine. This wasn’t just another gossip magazine; it was a deep dive into the personal lives of the famous, the intriguing, and occasionally, the downright bizarre. Fast-forward to today, and People is still one of America’s best-selling weeklies.

People’s Magazine founding manager was Richard Stolley, a man who previously made history by securing the Zapruder film of J.F.K.’s assassination. People set out to focus on, well, people. Stolley promised a mix of headliners, rising stars, and everyday folks thrown into extraordinary circumstances. Translation: a little Hollywood glitz, a little real-life drama, and just enough ordinary humanity to make you feel like you’re not wasting your time reading about Gloria Vanderbilt’s latest fashion venture.

The first issue was a 35-cent, 72-page affair, featured an crazy mix—The Exorcist author William Peter Blatty, Marina Oswald (widow of J.F.K.’s assassin), and the wives of missing Vietnam soldiers. It even covered the Patty Hearst kidnapping, because nothing says “celebrity culture” quite like a heiress-turned-bank-robber. The magazine was mostly black and white except for the cover, but even in grayscale, it flew off shelves.

Since then, People has evolved into a media powerhouse, dishing out everything from “The Sexiest Man Alive” to heartwarming stories of everyday heroes. Unlike the tabloids, it has built a reputation for steering clear of baseless gossip—because when it comes to covering A-listers, it turns out the truth is often just as ridiculous as the rumors.

Hot Air Duel🎈
In 1808, two Frenchmen, disputing over a woman, decided that fighting on land was too basic—so they took their duel to the skies. Each man climbed into a hot air balloon, armed with a musket, and attempted to shoot down the other’s balloon. After drifting over Paris, one man’s balloon was hit, sending him crashing to his death, while the victor floated away in triumph. This remains one of the most ridiculous duels in history, proving that when it comes to dramatic flair, the French always deliver.

Poop Skincare💩
The Ancient Egyptians were pioneers of skincare and cosmetics—but not all their beauty hacks aged well. One of their strangest treatments? Crocodile dung face masks. Believed to have anti-aging properties, wealthy Egyptians would slather croc poop on their faces, convinced it kept their skin smooth and youthful. Some even bathed in it, thinking it had magical cleansing powers. While we can appreciate their dedication to skincare, modern science (and noses) would strongly disagree.

Real Life Chess♟️
In 1454, Italian Duke Marquis of Marostica took chess to the next level by staging a live match where actual people played the pieces. Instead of being casually removed from the board, captured “pieces” were tossed into a river. This dramatic event wasn’t just for fun—it was part of a romantic competition between two knights fighting for a noblewoman’s hand in marriage. Instead of a duel, the Duke ordered them to battle it out in chess, using people as pieces in a lavish spectacle. The tradition stuck, and today, Marostica still reenacts this life-sized chess match every two years—thankfully, without the dunking.

Pirate Surgeon🏴‍☠️
In 1718, legendary pirate Blackbeard had a surgeon aboard his ship, but this wasn’t your typical doctor—his medical toolkit was a saw, a hot poker, and a whole lot of rum. When a crew member needed a limb amputated, the surgeon hacked it off with a saw and immediately cauterized the wound with a red-hot poker to stop the bleeding. No anesthesia, no antiseptics—just searing pain and a shot of booze. It was horrific, but for a pirate, survival meant enduring medicine as ruthless as the high seas.

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past. - Zach⛺️