Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Washington Monument dedicated 140 years ago today (Feb 21 1885)


Video: '21st February 1885: the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. was dedicated'

(Saturday, February 21, 1885) — The Washington Monument, an obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the early Continental Army and the first American president, was officially dedicated today by President Chester A. Arthur during ceremonies. Continue reading Washington Monument dedicated 140 years ago today (Feb 21 1885)

Top Nixon aides sentenced to prison for Watergate cover-up in historic judgment 50 years ago this hour (Feb 21 1975)


Video: 'SYND 21 2 75 WATERGATE SENTENCES PASSED'

(Friday, February 21, 1975, 9:29 a.m. EST; during the Watergate scandal) — John N. Mitchell, H.R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman, three of the most powerful men in the nation during the Nixon Administration, were sentenced today to serve two and a half to eight years in prison for their roles in the Watergate cover-up. Continue reading Top Nixon aides sentenced to prison for Watergate cover-up in historic judgment 50 years ago this hour (Feb 21 1975)

War of 1812 ends as United States and Britain ratify Treaty of Ghent 210 years ago this hour (Feb 17 1815)


Video: 'The War of 1812 - History - Documentary' (Treaty of Ghent at 1:46:49)

(Friday, February 17, 1815, 11:00 p.m. local time; during the War of 1812) — The War of 1812 formally ended tonight when U.S. President James Madison exchanged ratification documents for the Treaty of Ghent with a British representative. Continue reading War of 1812 ends as United States and Britain ratify Treaty of Ghent 210 years ago this hour (Feb 17 1815)

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin sign Yalta Agreement 80 years ago this hour (Feb 11 1945)


Video: 'Yalta, the Twilight of the Big Three'

(Sunday, February 11, 1945, 3:45 p.m. local time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin today signed the Yalta Agreement, in which Stalin agreed to declare war against Imperial Japan following Nazi Germany’s capitulation. Continue reading Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin sign Yalta Agreement 80 years ago this hour (Feb 11 1945)

House of Representatives elect John Quincy Adams sixth president of the United States 200 years ago today (Feb 9 1825)


Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1824'

(Wednesday, February 9, 1825, during the 1824 United States presidential election) — The U.S. House of Representatives elected Secretary of State John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts the sixth president of the United States today after no candidate had received a majority of electoral votes in the general election. Continue reading House of Representatives elect John Quincy Adams sixth president of the United States 200 years ago today (Feb 9 1825)

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin pose for cameras at Yalta conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 9 1945)


Video: 'Yalta, the Twilight of the Big Three' (Feb. 9, 1945, at 50:23)

(Friday, February 9, 1945, 4:00 p.m. Moscow Standard Time; during World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and Premier Joseph Stalin posed for still and motion pictures today in the courtyard of Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea during the eight-day Yalta Conference to discuss and plan the postwar world. Continue reading Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin pose for cameras at Yalta conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 9 1945)

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin convene at Yalta for pivotal wartime conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 4 1945)


Video: '4th February 1945: Yalta Conference begins, attended by Roosevelt, Churchill & Stalin: the Big Three'

(Sunday, February 4, 1945, 5:10 p.m. Moscow Standard Time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met today in the Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea for the eight-day Yalta Conference to discuss and plan the postwar world. Continue reading Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin convene at Yalta for pivotal wartime conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 4 1945)

Johnson adviser McGeorge Bundy arrives in Saigon 50 years ago this morning (Feb 4 1965)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Part 4 LBJ Goes to War 1964 65' (Feb. 4, 1965, at 26:33)

(Thursday, February 4, 1965, morning local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy, who had recently urged President Lyndon Johnson to bomb North Vietnam, arrived in Saigon this morning for a “fact” search.

Lincoln and Confederate VP Stephens meet for peace talks, but Southern autonomy stalls progress 160 years ago today (Feb 3 1865)


Video: 'History Bites : Hampton Roads Conference'

(Friday, February 3, 1865, morning local time; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens held a shipboard peace conference on the River Queen, near Union-controlled Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, today; the talks deadlocked over the issue of Southern autonomy. Continue reading Lincoln and Confederate VP Stephens meet for peace talks, but Southern autonomy stalls progress 160 years ago today (Feb 3 1865)

FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)


Video: '1945 Newsreel: The Yalta Conference begins' (Feb. 3, 1945, at 0:59)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 12:10 p.m. local time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt landed today at Saki airfield on the west coast of the Crimea, about 20 minutes ahead of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The two men reviewed an honor guard and then continued via jeep to Livadia Palace near Yalta, USSR, where they arrived about six hours later for a week-long conference to plan the postwar world. Continue reading FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)