Daily Archives: April 11, 2015

Lincoln delivers final speech, Booth vows it will be the president’s last 150 years ago tonight (Apr 11 1865)


Video: 'LINCOLN'S FINAL SPEECH'

(Tuesday, April 11, 1865, evening; during the American Civil War) — Two days after Lee’s army surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, President Abraham Lincoln spoke to a crowd outside the White House tonight, saying, “We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart.” Continue reading Lincoln delivers final speech, Booth vows it will be the president’s last 150 years ago tonight (Apr 11 1865)

U.S. announces it will close embassy in Phnom Penh 40 years ago today (Apr 11 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 11, 1975, at 37:48)

(Tuesday, April 11, 1975; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) –The United States announced today that because of the “seriously deteriorating military situation” it was closing its embassy in Phnom Penh and evacuating several hundred Americans and Cambodians from the encircled Cambodian capital.

Ambassador Martin optimistic following Ford’s pitch for new aid for Saigon 40 years ago today (Apr 11 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 11, 1975, at 35:50)

(Friday, April 11, 1975; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — One day after U.S. President Gerald Ford appealed to Congress to approve “without delay” nearly a billion dollars in military and humanitarian aid for Saigon to give South Vietnam a chance to “save itself” as a country, U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam Graham Martin remained optimistic.

‘Marty’ premieres in New York City 60 years ago today (Apr 11 1955)


Video: 'Marty' trailer

(Monday, April 11, 1955)Marty, a romantic drama film about a lonely butcher who finds love despite the opposition of his friends and family, premiered today at the Sutton theater in New York City.

Directed by Delbert Mann, the film starred Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair, Joe Mantell, Frank Sutton, Karen Steele, Jerry Paris, Esther Minciotti and Augusta Ciolli.

Roosevelt drives former mistress to Dowdell’s Knob 70 years ago today (Apr 11 1945)


Video: 'American Experience - FDR (Franklin Roosevelt) - Part 1/2 (PBS Documentary' (Apr. 9/11, 1945, at 2:10:18)

(Wednesday, April 11, 1945, lunchtime; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt drove his former mistress Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, who had arrived at Warm Springs, Georgia, on Monday (Apr. 9, 1945), to Dowdell’s Knob, overlooking a lovely valley, and talked about the future of the world and what he was going to do after the war had ended.

U.S. report concludes a Russian of Japan could be decisive 70 years ago today (Apr 11 1945)


Video: 'Peter Jennings - Hiroshima: Why the Bomb was Dropped (1995)' (Apr. 11, 1945, 34:59)

(Wednesday, April 11, 1945; part of the Pacific War during World War II) — A report from the U.S. Joint Intelligence Staff on Unconditional Surrender of Japan concluded today that a Russian invasion of Japan could be decisive in ending the Pacific War.

The Beatles headline NME Poll-Winners’ All-Star Concert 50 years ago this afternoon (Apr 11 1965)


Video: 'The Beatles at the NME Poll-Winners' All-Star Concert, 11 April 1965'

(Sunday, April 11, 1965, afternoon BST) — The Beatles topped the bill this afternoon at the 1964-65 New Musical Express Annual Poll-Winners’ All-Star Concert at the Empire Pool in Wembley in London. Continue reading The Beatles headline NME Poll-Winners’ All-Star Concert 50 years ago this afternoon (Apr 11 1965)

Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald liberated 70 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1945)


Video: 'Buchenwald Concentration Camp'

(Wednesday, April 11, 1945, 3:15 p.m. CEST; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald near Weimar, Germany, where prisoners from all over Europe and the Soviet Union worked primarily as forced labor in local armaments factories, was liberated today by U.S. troops. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald liberated 70 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1945)