Category Archives: 1930s

Johnson, backing Roosevelt’s court plan, wins seat in Congress in Texas election 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1937)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'PBS LBJ Part 1' (1937 campaign at 4:45)

(Saturday, April 10, 1937) — Youthful Lyndon B. Johnson, who shouted his advocacy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s plan to add more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court all over Texas’ 10th congressional district, was elected today to the seat in Congress that covered Austin and the surrounding hill country. Continue reading Johnson, backing Roosevelt’s court plan, wins seat in Congress in Texas election 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1937) →

295+ students, teachers killed in natural gas explosion at Texas school 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1937)

1930s


Video: '425 Children Perish in New London Texas School Explosion - 1937 Historic Footage'

(Thursday, March 18, 1937, 3:05-3:20 p.m. CST) — In America’s deadliest school disaster, more than 295 students and teachers were killed today in a natural gas explosion at the New London Consolidated School in Rusk County, Texas. Continue reading 295+ students, teachers killed in natural gas explosion at Texas school 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1937) →

Ronald Reagan takes a screen test in Hollywood 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 15 1937)

1930s, movies 1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '26-Year-Old Ronald Reagan in Hollywood 1937'

(Monday, March 15, 1937) — While attending spring training on Catalina Island, California, with the Chicago Cubs, Ronald Reagan, 26, took a screen test today in Hollywood that led to a seven-year contract with Warner Bros.
Continue reading Ronald Reagan takes a screen test in Hollywood 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 15 1937) →

FDR puts court plan on basis of party loyalty, says problems cant wait 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1937)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'U.S.President Franklin D. Roosevelt castigates the Supreme Court at Democratic Pa...HD Stock Footage'

(Thursday, March 4, 1937, 10:30 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt tonight put support for his plan to make over the Supreme Court squarely on the basis of party loyalty and responsibility. Continue reading FDR puts court plan on basis of party loyalty, says problems cant wait 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1937) →

Wallace H. Carothers receives U.S. patent for nylon 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1937)

1930s


Video: 'Nylon: First Synthetic Fiber - Decades TV Network'

(Tuesday, February 16, 1937) — Du Pont research chemist Dr. Wallace H. Carothers, inventor of nylon, received a patent today for the synthetic fiber, described as “linear condensation polymers.” Continue reading Wallace H. Carothers receives U.S. patent for nylon 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1937) →

Flint sit-down strike settled 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 11 1937)

1930s


Video: 'The Great Sit-Down - Yesterday's Witness in America' (Feb. 11, 1937, at 46:22)

(Thursday, February 11, 1937, noon EST) — The six-week-old Flint sit-down strike against General Motors ended today with the company agreeing to recognize the United Automobile Workers (UAW) as the exclusive bargaining representative for GM’s employees who were members of the union for the next six months. Continue reading Flint sit-down strike settled 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 11 1937) →

Roosevelt proposes plan to ‘pack’ Supreme Court 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1937)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Reshaping the Supreme Court'

(Friday, February 5, 1937, noon EST) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt today proposed the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, which included a provision to increase the number of Supreme Court justices to obtain favorable rulings regarding New Deal legislation that the court had ruled unconstitutional. Continue reading Roosevelt proposes plan to ‘pack’ Supreme Court 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1937) →

Roosevelt, Garner sworn in for second terms as U.S. President, Vice President 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 20 1937)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President Roosevelt's Inauguration (1937)'

(Wednesday, January 20, 1937, 12:29 p.m. EST) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 55, was inaugurated today for a second term of office on the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes administering oath of office. Continue reading Roosevelt, Garner sworn in for second terms as U.S. President, Vice President 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 20 1937) →

GM, Flint police battle striking UAW workers 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 11 1937)

1930s


Video: 'The Great Sit-Down - Yesterday's Witness in America' (Jan. 11, 1937, at 12:31)

(Monday, January 11, 1937, some time after 9:00 p.m. EST) — A sit-down strike by General Motors (GM) auto workers at the Fisher Body Plant No. 2 in Flint, Michigan, turned violent tonight when a riot broke out today after police tried to prevent the strikers from receiving food deliveries from supporters on the outside. Continue reading GM, Flint police battle striking UAW workers 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 11 1937) →

FDR urges courts to join march for social progress in State of the Union address 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 6 1937)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President Franklin Roosevelt during his Annual message to Congress speaks on the ...HD Stock Footage'

(Wednesday, January 6, 1937, 2:00 p.m. EST) — Addressing a joint session of the 75th United States Congress, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was cheered to the rafters today when he challenged the judicial branch to join the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government in the march for social progress, or risk a curb on its powers (click here for audio of the full address). Continue reading FDR urges courts to join march for social progress in State of the Union address 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 6 1937) →