Milestones

Ten years ago: More than a million people gathered in Tehran, calling for the overthrow of the sheiks of Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of Iranian pilgrims had died in rioting in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.

Five years ago: The Bush campaign, accused by Bill Clinton of mudslinging, responded with a vitriolic press release that referred to “sniveling hypocritical Democrats.” President Bush later disavowed the release.

One year ago: Wall Street investors, worried about possible interest rate increases, roared their approval after the government reported that unemployment was creeping higher, consumer spending had slipped and manufacturing may have stalled.