Category Archives: 1940s

Truman defeats Dewey in historic upset 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1948)

1940s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'TRUMAN WINS IN UPSET - 1948'

(Tuesday, November 2, 1948; during the United States presidential election, 1948) — Democratic U.S. President Harry S. Truman of Missouri, who had succeeded to the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, won election in his own right today, defeating Republican nominee Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York in one of the greatest election upsets in American history. Continue reading Truman defeats Dewey in historic upset 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1948) →

Indians beat Braves to win World Series 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 11 1948)

1940s, World Series


Video: '1948 WS Gm6: Indians win the 1948 World Series'

(Monday, October 11, 1948, at approximately 1:00 p.m.-3:16 p.m. EST) — The Cleveland Indians won the 1948 World Series today, beating the Boston Braves 4-3 at Braves Field in Boston, Massachusetts, in the sixth and deciding game. Continue reading Indians beat Braves to win World Series 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 11 1948) →

‘A Tree in the Meadow’ by Margaret Whiting peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 9 1948)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, October 9, 1948) — “A Tree in the Meadow” by Margaret Whiting With Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for two consecutive weeks (Oct. 9/16, 1948). Continue reading ‘A Tree in the Meadow’ by Margaret Whiting peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 9 1948) →

Dewey formally opens campaign with pledge to unify U.S. 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 20 1948)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Republican Campaign for President 1948' (Sept. 20, 1948, at 0:13)

(Saturday, September 18, 1948, scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CDT; during the United States presidential election, 1948 campaign) — Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New York formally opened his campaign as the Republican nomineee for President tonight in Des Moines, Iowa, with a pledge that his administration, if he is elected, will be devoted to restoring unity to the American people. Continue reading Dewey formally opens campaign with pledge to unify U.S. 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 20 1948) →

Truman blasts GOP in Iowa campaign stop 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 18 1948)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Rare Harry S. Truman Whistlestop Speech'

(Saturday, September 18, 1948, 12:30 p.m. CDT; during the United States presidential election, 1948 campaign) — On the first leg of a 9,500-mile campaign tour, U.S. President Harry S. Truman declared today that a Republican election victory would place the American farmer in “great danger” of “man-made disaster” from “gluttons of privilege.” Continue reading Truman blasts GOP in Iowa campaign stop 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 18 1948) →

Truman boards campaign train vowing to ‘give ’em hell’ 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1948)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2' (Sept. 17, 1948, at 50:15)

(Friday, September 17, 1948, 11:06 a.m. EDT; during the campaign of the United States presidential election, 1948) — An exuberant, confident U.S. President Harry S. Truman pulled out of Washington Union Station and headed west on his first major extended campaign tour today, declaring his intention to “fight hard” and ‘give ’em hell” in a back-breaking, no-quarter contest for the presidency between now and the general election on Nov. 2, 1948. Continue reading Truman boards campaign train vowing to ‘give ’em hell’ 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1948) →

North Korea established 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1948)

1940s, Cold War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 2, Prelude to war (1946-1947) 6.25' (Sep. 9, 1948, at 9:40)

(Thursday, September 9, 1948) — 25 days after the government of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was inaugurated, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) was established today with Kim Il-sung as premier. Continue reading North Korea established 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1948) →

LBJ wins Senate runoff in Texas by 87 votes 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1948)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'PBS LBJ Part 1' (1948 campaign at 22:57)

(Friday, September 3, 1948) — U.S. Rep. Lyndon B. Johnson defeated former Governor Coke Stevenson today in the Democratic runoff primary for the U.S. Senate post vacated by Wilbert Lee O’Daniel by 87 votes when, miraculously, six days after voters cast their ballots (Aug. 28, 1948), an additional 202 votes were discovered in Box 13 in tiny Alice, Texas. Continue reading LBJ wins Senate runoff in Texas by 87 votes 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1948) →

‘Twelfth Street Rag’ by Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 28 1948)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, August 28, 1948) — “Twelfth Street Rag” by Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for eight non-consecutive weeks (Aug. 28, Sept. 4/11/18/25, Oct. 2/23/30, 1948). Continue reading ‘Twelfth Street Rag’ by Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 28 1948) →

‘Red River’ opens in four states along Chisholm Trail 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 26 1948)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'Red River' trailer

(Thursday, August 26, 1948) — Red River, an American western film about a young cowhand who rebels against his rancher stepfather during a perilous cattle drive, opened today in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico, to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the opening of the Chisholm Trail, used in the post-Civil War era to drive cattle overland. Continue reading ‘Red River’ opens in four states along Chisholm Trail 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 26 1948) →