On April 4, 2001, The Onion struggled to recall the details of John-John's death while being distracted by the Oscars. We also have a yak, General Motors' new car and Disney's layoffs.
I was home with a two-week-old infant when JFK Jr. disappeared and died, so it was front and center in my awareness, especially with the odd hours you keep when you have a tiny infant. He and his sister were four and seven years old than me, respectively, so they were in the forefront of my awareness much of the time.
The "Young or Old Reagan" thing also references the "Young Elvis vs Old Elvis" debate from 1992 when the US Post Office was going to make a commemorative Elvis stamp. They had two designs, a young Elvis and an Old Elvis, and people voted on it. Young Elvis won, and the stamp was issued 8 January 1993.
I was home with a two-week-old infant when JFK Jr. disappeared and died, so it was front and center in my awareness, especially with the odd hours you keep when you have a tiny infant. He and his sister were four and seven years old than me, respectively, so they were in the forefront of my awareness much of the time.
The "Young or Old Reagan" thing also references the "Young Elvis vs Old Elvis" debate from 1992 when the US Post Office was going to make a commemorative Elvis stamp. They had two designs, a young Elvis and an Old Elvis, and people voted on it. Young Elvis won, and the stamp was issued 8 January 1993.
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/art-of-the-stamp-the-artwork-stamps-with-a-story/the-elvis-stamp-america-elects-a-king