Fortune Classic

Oil's New Mr. Big (Fortune, 2005)

Venezuela is one of America's biggest suppliers of crude--and that's the way leftist President Hugo Chavez likes it. He's looking to squeeze more dollars out of the international oil companies that drill there, while keeping prices high. Should we worry?

Editors note: Every Sunday we publish a relevant story from our magazine archives. In light of the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, this week we turn back to 2005 for a look MORE

U.S. Liqour Industry (Fortune 1931)

Its paradox is its normalcy ... With diversified outlets, its production and consumption are nicely balanced ... If legalized, it would employ few more men unless it could enlarge its markets. Below, an unprejudiced survey. Editors note: Every Sunday Fortune publishes a relevant story from our magazine archives. This week, as Anheuser-Bush InBev began talks the U.S. Justice Department to resolve antitrust concerns over the beer maker's planned  deal with Grupo Modelo, MORE

The Vatican's finances (Fortune 1987)

This venerable institution, its bureaucracy swollen and its image hurt by scandal, is strapped for cash. Pope John Paul II is pressing his cardinals to find a solution.

Editors note: Every Sunday Fortune publishes a relevant story from our magazine archives. This week, as Pope Benedict XVI prepares to hand the reins to a new leader of the Catholic Church, we turn to a 1987 investigation into the Vatican's finances. 

By Shawn Tully

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Silver Lake and the deal of the next century (Fortune 1999)

The Silver Lake partners are wagering on a whole new way to invest in infotech--the biggest, baddest LBO fund ever to hit Silicon Valley. They've raised more than $2 billion in a matter of months. Can they make it work?

Editors note: Every Sunday we publish a relevant story from our magazine archives. This week we turn back to 1999, when Silver Lake Partners was an up-and-coming buyout shop in Silicon Valley. Last MORE

The great bond massacre (Fortune, 1994)

In a year of low inflation, bondholders have suffered more than $1 trillion in losses. Here's why it happened, and could happen again.

Editor's note: Every Sunday, Fortune publishes a story from our magazine archives. Back in 1994, the magazine covered the more than $1-trillion loss by bondholders. Analysts today say a similar massacre could happen soon. What can we learn from 1994's debacle?

By Al Ehrbar

FORTUNE -- Wasn't this supposed to be MORE

Prime-time player

Sports fans have made ESPN the most profitable network on cable. Will its magic work in print? And can it withstand an assault on local sports broadcasting by Fox?

Editor's note: Every Sunday, Fortune publishes a story from our magazine archives. In the wake of the Manti T'eo scandal, sports network ESPN has taken some heat for not reporting the news that T'eo's dead girlfriend was a hoax. Instead, sports website Deadspin broke MORE

The deeper shame of American cities (Fortune, 1968)

We were taught to despise our cities until they became despicable—for white as well as black. It will take all the nation's talents to repair the damage.

Editor's note: Every Sunday, Fortune publishes a story from our magazine archives. As the country prepares to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and inaugurate its first African-American president for a second term, we turn to this piece from November of 1968. In the wake of the bitterly MORE

Can we survive technology?

We live in a world of unending progress. But technological advancement poses as many difficult questions as it answers.

Editor's note: Every Sunday, Fortune publishes a favorite story from our magazine archives. This week, to mark our Future Issue, we turn to a feature from June 1955 by John von Neumann tackling the profound questions wrought by radical technical advancement—in von Neumann's day the atomic bomb and climate change. von Neumann was one of MORE

The federal budget: Have we a 'spending orgy'? (Fortune, 1934)

Editor's note: Every Sunday, Fortune publishes a favorite story from our magazine archives. This week, as congressional leaders and the Obama Administration continue with fiscal cliff negotiations, we turn to a feature from December 1934 on the ballooning federal budget during the New Deal era. 

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What we know about marijuana -- so far (Fortune, 1971)

Editor's note: Every Sunday, Fortune publishes a favorite story from our magazine archives. This week, we turn to a feature from March 1971 on the physical effects and potential legalization of marijuana. On December 6, Washington became the first state in the U.S. to legalize recreational use of the drug for adults over 21 years old. Colorado will follow suit in January.