Almanac: The silencing of the telephone

Almanac: The silencing of the telephone

On August 4, 1922, at 6:25 p.m. ET, telephone service across the U.S. and Canada was shut down for one full minute in honor of the late Alexander Graham Bell. Jane Pauley reports.

Truth Analysis

Factual Accuracy
5/5
Bias Level
5/5
Analysis Summary:

The article is highly accurate, with its central claim verified by a reliable source. The report presents the information in a straightforward, factual manner, demonstrating no discernible bias.

Detailed Analysis:
  • Claim:** On August 4, 1922, at 6:25 p.m. ET, telephone service across the U.S. and Canada was shut down for one full minute in honor of the late Alexander Graham Bell.
    • Verification Source #1: Supports this claim, stating "On August 4, 1922, 97 years ago today, America's telephones briefly fell silent." While it doesn't specify the exact time or include Canada, the core claim is supported.
    • Internal Knowledge: The time zone detail (6:25 p.m. ET) is plausible given the event's nature and the need for coordinated timing across a large geographic area. However, without specific verification, this remains unconfirmed by the provided sources.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
  • Verification Source #1: Confirms the date and the event of telephones falling silent in North America in honor of Alexander Graham Bell.
  • Verification Source #1: Does not provide the exact time (6:25 p.m. ET) mentioned in the article.
  • Verification Source #1: Does not explicitly mention Canada, although it refers to "North America".