2018年，唐纳德·特朗普总统提名布雷特·卡瓦诺填补安东尼·肯尼迪大法官退休留下的空缺 [1]。这一政治事件发生在该日期相关的其他重大节点之中。回溯至 2010 年 7 月 9 日，美国与俄罗斯在维也纳机场完成了冷战后最大规模的间谍交换行动 [1]。此次行动涉及 10 名被遣返的俄罗斯潜伏特工以及 4 名被俄指控为西方间谍的囚犯 [1]。
视线转向更早的历史时刻，2004 年的一份报告得出结论指出，中情局对伊拉克威胁的评估缺乏依据，布什政府据此发动了战争 [1]。而在 1850 年的同一天，美国总统扎卡里·泰勒去世，副总统米勒德·菲尔莫尔于次日宣誓就职 [1]。到了 2010 年 7 月 9 日这一天本身，美国宪法第十四修正案获得批准，该修正案赋予出生或归化于美国者公民权及法律平等保护 [1]。
On this day in history, the United States Senate ratified the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of 1868, which granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the country and guaranteed equal protection under the law [1]. In a significant geopolitical event for July 9, 2010, American and Russian officials completed the largest spy swap since the Cold War at Vienna Airport; the exchange involved ten Russian agents operating undercover in the United States and four prisoners accused of spying by Russia who were to be released back to Moscow [1].
The date also marks a pivotal moment in presidential succession history. On July 9, 1850, President Zachary Taylor died, leading Vice President Millard Fillmore to take the oath of office the following day and become president [1]. Additionally, on this same calendar date in 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy [1].
Historical analysis from July 9 also highlights critical intelligence failures. A report released in 2004 concluded that the Central Intelligence Agency's assessment regarding threats posed by Iraq lacked sufficient evidence, yet this flawed evaluation formed the basis for President George W. Bush to launch a war against Iraq [1].