When Spiro T. Agnew was elected governor on Nov. 8, 1966, even the most pessimistic Republican would never have guessed that 36 years would pass before the GOP again seized the governor's mansion. But who can ever guess what is truly permanent and what is ephemeral? (After all, look what became of Agnew.) We know today, but that's too easy. Here's a look at some of what Marylanders digested that historic day.
Notable promise by victor: To build "a strong, two-party state in Maryland"
Other notable gubernatorial winner: Ronald Reagan in California
More happy GOP news: The Republicans pick up a whopping 47 seats in the House of Representatives and three in the Senate, and still they are hopelessly outnumbered in both chambers. (By contrast, in Tuesday's election, the Republicans gained only five in the House and two in the Senate, enough to give them control of Congress.)
Other election news: Edward Brooke of Massachusetts becomes the only black person ever popularly elected to U.S. Senate. (In the 36 years since, the list of blacks elected to the Senate has grown by exactly one, Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois in 1992.)
Still more notable election news: In a sweep for Baltimore, Orioles right fielder Frank Robinson is named American League MVP with second place going to third baseman Brooks Robinson and third place to first baseman Boog Powell.
Foreign entanglement preoccupying America: The Viet Cong complete two audacious strikes near Saigon, including kidnapping the entire population of a village. U.S. infantrymen continue trying to repel attack in Tay Ninh province.
Domestic reaction to foreign entanglement: Defense Secretary Robert McNamara is heckled by war protesters at Harvard.
Ugly rumor gaining currency: Reports circulate in the press that the Beatles, who have not appeared together since the summer, are breaking up. The rumor is wrong, but only for now.
Jobs for women advertised in the classifieds: Girl Fridays, stenographers, hostesses and security "guardettes." Position for a "pin chaser" in bowling alley doesn't specify gender preference.
Items offered for sale in the classifieds: typewriters, TV antennas, adding machines.
Cars advertised that are later discontinued: Ramblers, Darts, and Oldsmobile Delmont 88s.
Cars advertised that are later discontinued and later still restored: VW Bugs and Ford Thunderbirds.
Other products advertised in the newspaper: Lucky Strike cigarettes, Old Fitzgerald bourbon, denture cream, hormone cream, the "Swedish Masseur" and the Suddenly Slim girdle. ("Are you a woman whose figure is on the good side but might look perfect?")
Television programs pre-empted by election coverage: The Red Skelton Hour, Petticoat Junction, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. and The Fugitive.
Network news anchors on Election Night: Walter Cronkite on CBS, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley on NBC and Howard K. Smith and 28-year-old Peter Jennings on ABC.
Heartthrobs in new movies: Paul Newman, then 41, in Torn Curtain and Michael Caine, 32, in Alfie.
Dearly departed Baltimore institutions with newspaper display ads: Hamburger's, Stewart's, Hutzler's, Hochschild-Kohn.
Baltimore institutions still alive and kicking (one of them literally) with display ads: Eddie's Supermarket, Fader's, Tuerke's, the Senator and the Gayety Theater on The Block.
Election night reflections by Maryland's governor-elect: "I have difficulty imagining myself as a national leader; sometimes I have difficulty imagining myself as a state leader."