OCTOBER 16, 2008: Warren Buffett writes an op-ed for The New York Times titled, "Buy American. I Am." Critics slammed the investor after markets continued tumbling in the following weeks, but the years-long stock market rally in the postcrisis years would later vindicate his argument.

Andrea Comas/Reuters

One of Warren Buffett's long-standing beliefs is his bullishness on America's future. This sentiment was well articulated in his op-ed for The Times (emphasis added):

"Let me be clear on one point: I can’t predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven’t the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month — or a year — from now. What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So if you wait for the robins, spring will be over. [...]

"Over the long term, the stock market news will be good. In the 20th century, the United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts; the Depression; a dozen or so recessions and financial panics; oil shocks; a flu epidemic; and the resignation of a disgraced president. Yet the Dow rose from 66 to 11,497."

Sources: The New York Times, Business Insider