A glimpse of the past, nearly forty years ago, when CNN was a vital source of news

Operation El Dorado Canyon


CNN | April 14, 1986 (8:36pm–11:24pm EST)

I remember when CNN first started I became a news junkie. Could not get enough of CNN.

I believed everything they said.

Today I have it deprogrammed out of my viewing lineup.

I was in the Army in Germany when that happened. I was going on leave and they were going to lock down the Kaserne at midnight and I had to pickup a friend in Frankfurt the next morning. Threw all my stuff in the rental car and made it off post with 10 minutes to spare. A week or so later Chernobyl went boom. Memorable vacation.

I was pretty glued to CNN during 9/11. I honestly don't remember how they reported politically, but it kept me informed.

To me the high water mark for CNN was the 1991 Persian Gulf War and it's been steadily downhill ever since.

I was a senior in HS when that kicked off and remember being amazed at the 24 hour coverage of that war, it was unprecedented.

1986. It was a great evening when I'd channel surf between CNN, MTV, EPSN, and NBC.

I could always find something to watch.