Counting Down to April 7, the Anniversary of the Return of Legal Beer

March 21, 1933:

On this day, the House of Representatives approved the final version of the beer bill.

Members of the House and Senate had hoped to get it on the president's desk that day, but a clerical snafu stalled the proceedings. The Speaker of the House signed his copy and asked a clerk to run it back over to the Senate. There, the vice-president would sign it in the presence of the assembled Senate.

One small problem: The clerk missed the v-p and the Senators by nine minutes; they'd already adjourned for the day.

Not to worry. Tomorrow was soon enough. One more day. One more signature.