Video: 'Korean War - PART 2, Prelude to war (1946-1947) 6.25' (Aug. 15, 1948, at 9:26)
(Sunday, August 15, 1948) — The First Republic of Korea, South Korea’s first independent government, was established on today with Syngman Rhee as the first president. Continue reading First Republic of Korea established 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 15 1948)
Video: '1948 HUAC Hearing with Alger Hiss'
(Thursday, August 5, 1948; during the Second Red Scare and the Cold War) — Former U.S. State Department official Alger Hiss voluntarily appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee today and denied under oath that he had ever been a communist. Continue reading Hiss denies he was ever a communist 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 5 1948)
Video: 'President Richard Nixon's Legacy' (Aug. 3, 1948 at 20:08)
(Tuesday, August 3, 1948; during the Second Red Scare and the Cold War) — Time magazine editor Whittaker Chambers testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee today that he had been part of a Communist underground organization prior to his leaving the movement in 1937. Continue reading Chambers accuses Hiss of being a communist spy 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 3 1948)
Video: 'London 1948 Olympic Games - Olympic Flame & Opening Ceremony'
(Thursday, July 29, 1948, 4:00 p.m. BST) — 75,000 people jammed Wembley Stadium in London this afternoon as King George VI of England declared the 1948 Summer Olympics officially open, the first Summer Olympics since the Berlin Games in 1936. Continue reading 1948 Summer Olympics open in London 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 29 1948)
Video: '1948 Truman DNC Acceptance Speech (Full)'
(Thursday, July 15, 1948, 1:45 a.m. EDT) — President Harry S. Truman of Missouri accepted the Democratic Presidential nomination in a fighting mood this morning at the 1948 Democratic National Convention, predicted victory in November and announced that he would call the Republican-controlled Congress back into session on July 26, 1948, to deal with housing, education, civil rights and other controversial measures. Continue reading Truman accepts Democratic POTUS nomination 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 15 1948)
Video: 'Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein' trailer (plus 11 clips)
(Wednesday, July 14, 1948) — Count Dracula plots to put a simpleton”s brain into the body of the Frankenstein monster in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, an American horror comedy that opened today at the Paramount Theater in Syracuse, New York. Continue reading ‘Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein’ opens in Syrause, New York 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 14 1948)
(Saturday, July 3, 1948) — “Woody Wood-Pecker” by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra (with Harry Babbitt’s laugh interrupting vocalist Gloria Wood) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for six consecutive weeks (July 3/10/17/24/31, Aug. 7, 1948). Continue reading ‘Woody Wood-Pecker’ by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 3 1948)
Video: 'American Experience The Berlin Airlift' (Berlin Airlift at 9:15)
(Saturday, June 26, 1948; during the Berlin Blockade, part of the Cold War) — Two days after the Soviets halted land and water access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control in the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany, American planes began flying milk, flour and medical supplies today to alleviate the plight of 2.5 million residents affected by the Russian effort to squeeze out the Western Allies. Continue reading U.S. mobilizes planes to supply West Berlin 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 26 1948)
Video: '1948 Thomas Dewey Republican Convention Acceptance Speech'
(Thursday, June 24, 1948, evening EDT) — Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York accepted the presidential nomination tonight at the 1948 Republican National Convention and immediately appealed to the party and the country for unity on the basis of a new spiritual faith. Continue reading Thomas Dewey accepts GOP nomination for POTUS 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 24 1948)
Video: 'The Berlin Blockade (10m)'
(Thursday, June 24, 1948; during the Cold War) — The Berlin Blockade began today in the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany as the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies’ land and water access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. Continue reading Soviets impose land, water blockade of West Berlin 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 24 1948)
