Editor's Letter: A Look Back (and Ahead) at Marketing Moments That Define Adweek

We're celebrating being 40 Years Bold

Inspiration meets innovation at Brandweek, the ultimate marketing experience. Join industry luminaries, rising talent and strategic experts in Phoenix, Arizona this September 23–26 to assess challenges, develop solutions and create new pathways for growth. Register early to save.

Adweek breathed its first breath on Nov. 19, 1979.

It also came close to it being its last.

At 3 a.m. on that date alarms at the Norad missile command center in Colorado sounded a full-scale nuclear attack was underway. Defense analysts’ computers showed 250 Soviet nuclear missiles bearing down on the United States. One congressional investigator years later noted that “compared to this raid, Pearl Harbor was a Sunday picnic.” Fortunately, and quite obviously, the story has a happy ending.

AW+

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber

View Subscription Options

Already a member? Sign in

Adweek magazine cover
Click for more from this issue

This story first appeared in the Dec. 9, 2019, issue of Adweek magazine. Click here to subscribe.