When was Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century published?
Time published the list across five issues in 1998 and 1999. A separate issue on the 31st of December 1999 recognized Albert Einstein as the Person of the Century.
Questions about Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who was chosen as Time's Person of the Century and why?
Albert Einstein was chosen as Time's Person of the Century. The editors selected him on the grounds that he was the preeminent scientist in a century they believed would be remembered foremost for its science and technology. Mahatma Gandhi and Franklin D. Roosevelt were the runners-up.
Where did the idea for the Time 100 list originate?
The idea began at a symposium in Hanoi, Vietnam, on the 1st of February 1998. The panel included Dan Rather, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Mario Cuomo, Condoleezza Rice, Irving Kristol, and Time managing editor Walter Isaacson.
Why was Elvis Presley not included in the Time 100 list?
Time representative Bruce Handy explained that Elvis did not write his own material, which cut against him under the magazine's emphasis on songwriters who performed their own work. Handy contrasted Elvis with the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Robert Johnson, arguing the Beatles pushed further and continued to grow.
Why did Time 100 include Bart Simpson among the 100 most influential people?
Time representative Bruce Handy defended Bart Simpson's inclusion by arguing that cartoons were one of the century's great cultural contributions alongside jazz and film. He credited The Simpsons with merging social satire and popular animation in a way that had not been done before.
Why was Lucky Luciano included in the Time 100 list despite controversy?
Time business editor Bill Saporito defended the selection by describing Luciano as an evil genius who had a deep impact on the underground economy. The list's stated criterion was greatest impact for better or worse, not moral approval. New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and others publicly condemned the inclusion.