Category Archives: 1940s

John F. Kennedy announces that he’s running for Congress 80 years ago today (Apr 25 1946)


Video: 'JFK’s 1946 Campaign: The Birth of a Political Dynasty'

(Thursday, April 25, 1946) — John F. Kennedy officially announced today at the Parker House Hotel that he was running for the 11th Congressional District in Massachusetts (which included parts of Boston, Cambridge and Somerville). Continue reading John F. Kennedy announces that he’s running for Congress 80 years ago today (Apr 25 1946)

Supreme Court Chief Justice Harlan Stone dies 80 years ago this hour (Apr 22 1946)


Video: 'Supreme Court Chief Justice Harlan Stone and Justice Felix Frankfurter discuss ethnic tolerance 1946'

(Monday, April 22, 1946, 6:45 p.m. EST)Harlan F. Stone, the twelfth Chief Justice of the United States (1941-1946), died tonight of a massive cerebral hemorrhage at his Washington D.C. home. Continue reading Supreme Court Chief Justice Harlan Stone dies 80 years ago this hour (Apr 22 1946)

League of Nations expires in Geneva, UN to get physical assets 80 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1946)


Video: 'United Nations - April In Three Cities (1946)' (League of Nations at 1:05)

(Thursday, April 18, 1946, 11:00 p.m. GMT) — The League of Nations, created as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War, expired tonight in Geneva and willed to the United Nations its physical assets in the hope that the new organization might succeed where the League had failed. Continue reading League of Nations expires in Geneva, UN to get physical assets 80 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1946)

International Court of Justice holds first sitting in The Hague, Netherlands 80 years ago today (Apr 18 1946)


Video: 'Plechtige openingszitting van het Internationaal Gerechtshof in het Vredespaleis (1946)'

(Thursday, April 18, 1946, afternoon Central European Time) — The International Court of Justice, the judicial arm of the United Nations, held its first sitting in the famous Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, this afternoon.

Masaharu Homma executed by firing squad for Bataan Death March 80 years ago this hour (Apr 3 1946)


Video: 'Execution of Japanese General Responsible for the Bataan death March in Philippines - Masaharu Homma'

(Wednesday, April 3, 1946, 12:53 a.m. Philippine Standard Time) — Lieut. Gen. Masaharu Homma, the 58-year-old Japanese commander held responsible for the Bataan Death March that killed 17,200 American and Filipino captives, was executed by firing squad today in Los Baños, Laguna, a few kilometers from the former internment camp at the University of the Philippines Los Baños

UN Security Council holds first meeting on U.S. soil 80 years ago this hour (Mar 25 1946)

(Monday, March 25, 1946, 2:31 p.m. EST) — The United Nations moved to its new interim location today in the Bronx, a borough of New York City, on the campus of Hunter College, part of the City College of New York system. Continue reading UN Security Council holds first meeting on U.S. soil 80 years ago this hour (Mar 25 1946)

‘Oh! What It Seemed to Be’ by Frankie Carle and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Mar 16 1946)

(Saturday, March 16, 1946) — “Oh! What It Seemed to Be” by Frankie Carle and His Orchestra (vocal chorus by Marjorie Hughes) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for six consecutive weeks (Mar. 16/23/30, Apr. 6/13/20, 1946).

British PM Attlee backs India’s right to independence 80 years ago this hour (Mar 15 1946)


Video: 'India Independent - Documentary on the Independence Movement'

(Friday, March 15, 1946, 2:30 p.m. GMT) — British Prime Minister Clement Attlee declared in the House of Commons today the government’s intention to grant British India the right to full independence and not merely dominion status. Continue reading British PM Attlee backs India’s right to independence 80 years ago this hour (Mar 15 1946)

‘Gilda’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour (Mar 14 1946)


Video: 'Gilda' trailer

(Thursday, March 14, 1946, 10:35 a.m. EST)Gilda, a film noir about a gambler who discovers an old flame in South America, premiered this morning at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Continue reading ‘Gilda’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour (Mar 14 1946)

Churchill visits FDR’s grave for first time 80 years ago today (Mar 12 1946)

(Tuesday, March 12, 1946) — Solemnly and without words, Winston Churchill walked through a century-old hemlock hedge today and into a rose garden where he placed a wreath on the grave of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the man who had shared his heaviest burdens during one the supreme periods of history (click here to watch video of Churchill’s visit to FDR’s grave at 2:18:31).