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Brexit Day Takes Britain Back to the Future

Jamie Dettmer

   Nearly 60 years ago, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan launched
   Britain's bid to join what was then called the European Community, now
   the European Union. He saw no alternative but to go in with the
   Europeans, fearing otherwise Britain would be diminished, its global
   influence weakened.

   Macmillan worried U.S. trade and investment inevitably would be drawn
   increasingly toward Europe and away from Britain, and that his country
   would lose major economic benefits by not being a member of the
   emerging bloc.

   It took more than a decade for Britain to join the EC and nearly a
   quarter of that time to exit the bloc.

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