The first debt ceiling fight was in 1953. It looked almost exactly like the one today

https://www.npr.org/2023/06/01/ [login to see] /debt-ceiling-limit-default-eisenhower-biden-maccarthy
The year was 1953: World War II was over; the economy was thriving; Peter Pan was enchanting moviegoers; the song Vaya Con Dios was topping the charts – and the very first debt ceiling fight was brewing in Congress.

And that very first battle looked ... remarkably similar to the one happening right now, which could resolve itself in the next several days if the Senate follows the House in approving a debt deal negotiated between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.