1950

• The gross national product (GNP) reaches $284.6 billion, up from $100.6 billion in 1940.
• Television advertisers spend $171 million.
• DuPont introduces Orlon and approves plans to spend $50 million on construction of research and development facilities.
• The first Xerox copy machine is produced.
• On January 1, some 31 percent of U.S. women work outside the home.
• From January 11 to March 5, the U.S. coal industry suffers from massive strikes.
• On January 22, auto inventor Preston Tucker is cleared of securities and fraud charges related to the failure of his attempt to build an innovative automobile.
• From February 8 to February 9, federal courts uphold U.S. Justice Department suits against U.S. film companies, ordering them to separate production and distribution.
• On March 1, Congress allocates $429 million for highway construction. Congress will increase...