Unlike the stock market crash of 20 years ago, the drama of the US financial crisis of 2008 lasted for weeks, not days, and the brooding stress and compounded uncertainty of each passing day took months to dissipate.
For much of September and October, fear and anticipation drove Wall Street and Washington, with one eyeing the other in a one-of-a-kind symbiotic exercise between commerce and government.
Though it's too soon to describe the crisis as a distant memory, a year — and a very long one at that — as passed.
With an economic recovery now in sight for many, a look back at the month that shook the world is more than appropriate.
So, for the next 30 days, CNBC will give you a snapshot of each day in September, putting events and analysis in perspective.
The Crisis — Day by Day:
Sept. 30: Hope Holds—For A Change
Sept. 28: Europe 'Contagion' Fear
Sept. 24: Stopping 'Total Carnage'
Sept. 23: Buffett's Goldman Bet
Sept. 22: Euphoria Fades, Fear Glows
Sept. 21: Fed OKs Bank Changes
Sept. 20: Congress' Big Saturday
Sept. 18: $700 Billion Solution
- McCain Softens His Opposition To AIG Bailout
- Full Story: AIG to Get $85 Billion, Give Up 79.9% Stake
- Poll: Was the Govt Wrong to Bail Out AIG?
Sept. 16: The Great Uncertainty
- AIG Bailout Anniversary: A Video Look Back
- Where AIG Stands 1 Year After Bailout
- Buffett: No Regrets About Decisions
Sept. 15: Monday's Triple Trouble
- US Economy Facing 'Death by a Thousand Cuts': Roubini
- Where's the Next Bubble? And When Will it Burst?
Sept. 14: BoFA Reaches Deal to Buy Merrill
- If Lehman Hadn’t Failed, AIG Would Have: Trichet
- Securitization Addiction Helped Sink Lehman: Former Exec
- Video: Mack, Pandit and Bartiromo Look Back
Sept. 11: Lehman Spooks Sector
Sept. 10: AIG, WaMu Anxiety
Sept. 9: Lehman Plays Defense
Sept. 5: A Pretty Black Friday
Sept. 4: White Knights And Bears
- Watch Exclusive Interview with Fannie and Freddie Regulator
