Monthly Archives: July 2015

FDR signs National Labor Relations Act 80 years ago today (July 5 1935)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'U1TV - Supreme Court Approves National Labor Relations Act' (case decided April 12, 1937)

(Friday, July 5, 1935, during the Great Depression) — The National Labor Relations Act of 1935, a foundational statute of U.S. labor law which guarantees basic rights of private sector employees to organize into trade unions, engage in collective bargaining for better terms and conditions at work, and take collective action including strike if necessary was signed today by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The act also created the National Labor Relations Board, which conducts elections that can require employers to engage in collective bargaining with labor unions (also known as trade unions).

Secret Service founded to suppress counterfeit currency 150 years ago today (July 5 1865)

1860s


Video: 'History of The United States SECRET SERVICE Documentary HD Channel Official'

(Wednesday, July 5, 1865) — With a reported one third of the currency in circulation being counterfeit at the time, the Secret Service Division of the U.S. Treasury Department was founded today in Washington D.C. with the mission of suppressing counterfeit currency.

Rhodes writes about his fifth 4th of July in the Army 150 years ago today (July 4 1865)

1860s


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (July 4, 1865 at 37:57)

(Tuesday, July 4, 1865) — Elisha Hunt Rhodes, an American soldier who served for the entire duration of the American Civil War, wrote today in Halls Hill, Virginia, about his fifth (and what would turn out to be his final) 4th of July holiday while serving in the Union Army.

‘Back to the Future’ opens in U.S. theaters 30 years ago today (July 3 1985)

1980s, Movies 1980s


Video: 'Back to the Future' trailer

(Wednesday, July 3, 1985) — Back to the Future, a comic science fiction film about a young man who travels into the past and almost keeps his parents from getting married, opened today at Loew’s State in New York City and other theaters in the U.S.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover.

Byrnes promises no policy change as he becomes Secretary of State 70 years ago today (July 3 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 24-The Bomb(February–September 1945)' (July 3, 1945, at 16:55)

(Tuesday, July 3, 1945; during World War II) — Taking the oath of office within twenty-four hours after his nomination as Secretary of State, James F. Byrnes asserted today that there would be no change in basic foreign and peace policies charted by the late U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and no change in State Department personnel until after his return from the Big Three conference in Berlin later this month.