Video: 'John Adams: American Independence: The 2nd President of the United States | Mini Bio | BIO'

(Tuesday, July 4, 1826, 6:20 p.m. local time) — John Adams, the second President of the United States (1797-1801), an American Founding Father who served as the first vice president of the United States (1789-1797), died today at his home in Quincy, Massachusetts, of heart failure. Continue reading Former U.S. President John Adams, 90, dies near Quincy, Massachusetts 200 years ago this hour (July 4 1826) →

Video: 'Thomas Jefferson - Mini Biography'

(Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4, 1826, 12:50 p.m. local time) — Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States (1801–1809), an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, died this afternoon at his plantation estate Monticello near Charlottesville, Virginia, of toxemia from a kidney infection, uremia from kidney damage, and pneumonia. Continue reading Former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, 83, dies at his Monticello plantation 200 years ago this hour (Jul 4 1826) →

Video: 'America's Bicentennial - July 4, 1976 - ABC Coverage!'

(Sunday, July 4, 1976, U.S. President Gerald Ford spoke at Independence Hall at 11:19-11:37 a.m. EDT) — The United States celebrated the bicentennial of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence today with pageantry and prayer, with games and parades, with picnics and fireworks, with the peal of bells and the chant of protests. Continue reading United States celebrates bicentennial 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (July 4 1976) →

Video: 'Bill Moyers Essay: The Freedom of Information Act'

(Independence Day, Monday, July 4 1966) — President Lyndon B. Johnson today signed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a federal freedom of information law that allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the United States government, which went into effect the following year. Continue reading President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Freedom of Information Act 60 years ago today (July 4 1966) →