Daily Archives: April 7, 2025

LBJ makes offers to start Vietnam peace talks unconditionally 60 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1965)


Video: 'President Johnson's Remarks on Vietnam at Johns Hopkins University, 4/7/65. MP549.'

(Wednesday, April 7, 1965, 9:00 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson said tonight that the United States was ready to begin, without prior conditions, diplomatic discussions to end the war in Vietnam. Continue reading LBJ makes offers to start Vietnam peace talks unconditionally 60 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1965)

Grant asks Lee to surrender to avoid ‘any further effusion of blood’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 7, 1865, at 49:31)

(Friday, April 7, 1865, 5:00 p.m. local time; during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — As Union forces under Gen. Ulysses Grant pursued the Confederate army under Gen. Robert E. Lee along the Appomattox River, Grant initiated a series of dispatches between between the two commanders: Continue reading Grant asks Lee to surrender to avoid ‘any further effusion of blood’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1865)

The Beatles film pub cellar sequence for feature film 60 years ago today (Apr 7 1965)

Video: 'Good lord, it's Rajah, the famous Bengal man-eater who escaped from London Zoo this...'

(Wednesday, April 7, 1965) — The pub cellar sequence for The Beatles’ second feature film, Help!, was filmed today at Twickenham Film Studios in England. Continue reading The Beatles film pub cellar sequence for feature film 60 years ago today (Apr 7 1965)

‘My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time’ by Les Brown Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Apr 7 1945)

(Saturday, April 7, 1945) — “My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time” by the Les Brown Orchestra (with a vocal by Doris Day) was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Best Selling Retail Records chart for seven consecutive weeks (Apr. 7/14/21/28, May 5/12/19, 1945).

Lincoln to Grant: ‘Let the thing be pressed’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 7, 1865, at 48:17)

(Friday, April 7, 1865 11:00 a.m. local time; during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln sent Gen. Ulysses Grant a telegram today, stating: “Gen. Sheridan says ‘If the thing is pressed I think that Lee will surrender.’ Let the thing be pressed.”

Admiral Kantaro Suzuki becomes Japanese prime minister 80 years ago today (Apr 7 1945)


Video: 'The World At War: The Bomb 2/5' (Apr. 7, 1945, at 2:36)

(Saturday, April 7, 1945; during World War II) — Seven days into the Battle of Okinawa, the growing peace party of Japan secured the appointment of a new cabinet today led by Admiral Kantaro Suzuki following the resignation of Prime Minister Kuniaki Koiso.

Wham! performs in Communist China’s first big-name rock concert 40 years ago today (Apr 7 1985)


Video: 'Wham! / In China Foreign Skies Documentary'

(Easter Sunday, April 7, 1985, evening China Standard Time) — British pop sensation Wham! (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley) performed before 15,000 people at the Workers’ Gymnasium in Beijing today in Communist China’s first big-name rock concert.