A toppled bridge, CCP hackers, and Hurricane Helene wrought varying degrees of damage, while Trump survived attempts on his life to become president-elect.
President Ronald Reagan once said: “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the Marines don’t have that problem.”
The same might be said of 2024, which saw a number of firsts that left a lasting impression on the world.
Here are the defining moments of the year, presented in chronological order.
Harvard President Resigns
Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned on Jan. 2, about two months after she and other university administrators were questioned about anti-Semitism on their campuses.
Under questioning from Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a Harvard alumna, Gay said that students calling for the genocide of Jews did not necessarily violate Harvard’s code of conduct.
Gay later apologized for the remarks.
The U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation in late November 2023 into Harvard in light of anti-Semitism on its campus.
Nearly 27 percent of Harvard students are Jewish.
The resignation was the third among Ivy League presidents who faced pressure from donors and lawmakers over their handling of campus protests regarding the Israel–Hamas war.
McConnell Steps Down
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced on Feb. 28 that he would step down at the end of the year but remain in the Senate.
McConnell, 82, is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. He faced persistent opposition from some Republican senators who disagreed with his efforts to continue funding Ukraine in its war with Russia.
McConnell will be succeeded by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) on Jan. 3, 2025.
Terrorist Attack in Russia Kills 145
A terrorist attack on a concert hall near Moscow killed at least 145 people and injured 180 on March 22.
The ISIS terrorist group claimed responsibility, but Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged in a televised address that the perpetrators had attempted to flee to Ukraine.
On June 23, terrorists attacked two cities in the Russian Republic of Dagestan, striking two synagogues, two churches, and a police post. At least 21 people were killed and 46 were injured.
