On This Day: French Republic, Lincoln, and the VW Scandal
September 22 marks a day of profound historical shifts, from the birth of the first French Republic to the liberation of millions in the United States. It is a date characterized by political milestones, sporting triumphs, and significant scientific breakthroughs. Today, the world also observes European Car-Free Day and World Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Day.
Historical Milestones
In 1792, the first French Republic was officially proclaimed, signaling a new era for European democracy. Seven decades later, in 1862, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, a transformative decree that led to the legal freedom of enslaved people in the United States on January 1, 1863. The fight against slavery continued globally for years, with Sierra Leone finally abolishing the practice on this day in 1927.
Politics and Global Conflict
Diplomatic history was made in 1973 when Henry Kissinger was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State. Two years later, President Gerald Ford narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in San Francisco. In 1976, Portugal solidified its place in the European community by joining the Council of Europe. However, the day also marks the beginning of tragedy; in 1980, the long and devastating Iran-Iraq War commenced.
More recently, in 2023, the European Commission approved a revised €22.2 billion Recovery and Resilience Plan for Portugal, adjusting for the economic impacts of inflation and the war in Ukraine. In a landmark diplomatic move in 2025, France, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Malta officially recognized the State of Palestine.
Science, Innovation, and the Environment
Technological progress took center stage in 1968 when Hokkaido University introduced a mini-camera capable of peering inside the human heart. In 1981, France revolutionized European travel with the maiden voyage of the TGV high-speed train between Paris and Lyon.
Environmental protection saw a major victory in 2007, when 200 countries met in Montreal to accelerate the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances by a decade. In 2015, the automotive world was rocked when Volkswagen admitted that 11 million diesel vehicles were equipped with software designed to cheat emissions tests, sparking a global scandal.
Culture and Sports
The arts lost several legends on this day, including “God Bless America” composer Irving Berlin (1989), legendary violinist Isaac Stern (2001), and the double Booker Prize-winning novelist Hilary Mantel (2022). In 1955, the UK’s media landscape changed forever as ITV, the country’s first private commercial network, began broadcasting.
In the sporting world, 2024 saw Portuguese canoeists José Ramalho and Fernando Pimenta claim gold at the Marathon World Championships. In 2025, French star Ousmane Dembélé reached the pinnacle of football, winning his first Ballon d’Or.
Today’s Reflection
“One does not fight only in the hope of victory. It is much more beautiful when it is useless.” — Edmond Rostand (1868-1918), French writer.
Image: Pexels – Efrem Efre
