Daily Archives: June 12, 2012

FDR launches nationwide rubber drive 70 years ago this hour (1942)

(Friday, June 12, 1942, 6:45 p.m. EWT) — U.S. President D. Roosevelt called on the American people tonight to dig into their attics, cellars, garages and barns for old rubber articles of every description and sell them to 400,000 neighborhood gasoline filling stations for 1 cent a pound between June 15-30 as a contribution to the nation’s all-out effort to defeat the Axis.

Stuart begins ride around the Army of the Potomac 150 years ago today (1862)


Video: Stuart's troops begin ride (at 19:10)

(Thursday, June 12, 1862, part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War) — Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart began his ride around the Army of the Potomac today in Virginia after being sent on a reconnaissance of Union positions by Robert E. Lee in a prelude of the Seven Days Battles.