Category Archives: 1940s

Truman writes about upcoming historic speech to NAACP 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 28 1947)

1940s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (June 28, 1947, at 37:56)

(Saturday, June 28, 1947) — President Harry S. Truman wrote his sister a letter today, mentioning his upcoming speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: “I’ve got to make a speech tomorrow to the Society for the Advancement of Colored People and I wish I didn’t have to make it… Mamma won’t like what I say.” Continue reading Truman writes about upcoming historic speech to NAACP 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 28 1947) →

‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir’ opens in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 26 1947)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' trailer

(Thursday, June 26, 1947, 10:40 a.m. EDT) — The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, a fantasy romantic comedy-drama film about a spirited widow who rents a haunted cottage and builds an emotional bond with the resident ghost, opened this morning at Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Continue reading ‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir’ opens in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 26 1947) →

‘The Diary of a Young Girl,’ personal journal of Anne Frank, first published 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 25 1947)

1940s, The Holocaust


Video: 'Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl'

(Wednesday, June 25, 1947) — The Diary of a Young Girl, the personal journal of Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish girl hiding with her family from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II and The Holocaust, was first published today under the title The Annex: Diary Notes 14 June 1942 – 1 August 1944 by Contact Publishing in Amsterdam. Continue reading ‘The Diary of a Young Girl,’ personal journal of Anne Frank, first published 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 25 1947) →

First modern UFO sighting takes place near Mount Rainier in Washington 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 24 1947)

1940s


Video: 'Kenneth Arnold UFO Documentary'

(Tuesday, June 24, 1947, a few minutes before 3:00 p.m. PDT) — In what’s regarded as the first modern UFO sighting took place today as private pilot Kenneth Arnold reported seeing nine silvery objects flying in a “weaving formation” past Mount Rainier in Washington at speeds he estimated at a minimum of 1,200 miles an hour. Continue reading First modern UFO sighting takes place near Mount Rainier in Washington 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 24 1947) →

Congress overrides Truman’s veto of anti-labor Taft-Hartley Act 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1947)

1940s, U.S. Presidents

(Monday, June 23, 1947, 3:17 p.m. EDT) — The Senate by 68 to 25 joined the House today in overriding President Harry S. Truman’s veto of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, better known as the Taft-Hartley Act, designed to limit the power of organized labor (click here to watch “Target Labor And Taft-Hartley” video).

U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall outlines plan for American reconstruction, relief aid to Europe 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1947)

1940s, Cold War


Video: 'The Marshall Plan Speech (video presentation by the Marshall Foundation)'

(Thursday, June 5, 1947, 2:50 p.m. EDT; during the Cold War) — U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall gave a speech today at Harvard University in which he outlined the Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program, ERP), an American initiative to aid Western Europe, in which the United States would give over $13 billion in economic support to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II. Continue reading U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall outlines plan for American reconstruction, relief aid to Europe 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1947) →

‘Miracle on 34th Street’ opens in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1947)

1940s, Christmas, Movies 1940s


Video: 'Miracle on 34th Street' trailer

(Wednesday, June 4, 1947, doors opened at 10:30 a.m. EDT) — Miracle on 34th Street, a Christmas comedy-drama film about a department store Santa who claims to be the real thing, opened this morning at the Roxy Theatre at 153 West 50th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, just off Times Square in New York City. Continue reading ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ opens in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1947) →