Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Truman vows to uphold Roosevelt’s legacy in first address to Congress 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945)


Video: 'Truman's First Address, 1945'

(Monday, April 16, 1945, entered House Chamber at 1:02 p.m. EWT; during World War II) –In his first address to Congress as president, Harry S. Truman pledged Monday to carry forward the vision and resolve of his late predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, urging national unity and promising an unrelenting fight against tyranny. Continue reading Truman vows to uphold Roosevelt’s legacy in first address to Congress 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945)

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt buried at Hyde Park 80 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1945)


Video: 'FDR: A Presidency Revealed: Part 19' (Apr. 15, 1945, at 2:35)

(Sunday, April 15, 1945, 11:00 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — In the hedge-enclosed garden of his ancestral Hyde Park estate in New York, high above the eternal flow of the Hudson, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was laid at rest this morning in the presence of President Harry S. Truman and ranking officials of this country and representatives of other nations. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt buried at Hyde Park 80 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1945)

Andrew Johnson sworn in as 17th president of the United States following Abraham Lincoln’s assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1865)


Video: ‘Andrew Johnson: The President Who Wasn’t Lincoln | 5-Minute Videos’

(Saturday, April 15, 1865, 10:00 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — Vice President Andrew Johnson, 56, was sworn in as the 17th President of the United States this morning, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Continue reading Andrew Johnson sworn in as 17th president of the United States following Abraham Lincoln’s assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1865)

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln dies, ‘now belongs to the ages’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln dies at 17:53)

(Saturday, April 15, 1865, 7:22:10 a.m.; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, 56, died this morning at the Petersen House in Washington, nine hours after he was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth. Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln dies, ‘now belongs to the ages’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1865)

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln mortally wounded at Ford’s Theatre 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln assassination at 14:49; shot fired at 15:36)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, approximately 10:13 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head near point blank range tonight after entering the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre in Washington during a performance of Our American Cousin. Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln mortally wounded at Ford’s Theatre 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

The Lincoln party arrives at Ford’s Theater 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln arrives at 14:07)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, 8:30 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — President Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris arrived at Ford’s Theatre in Washington tonight and settled by into the presidential box. Continue reading The Lincoln party arrives at Ford’s Theater 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

Booth instructs fellow conspirators to kill VP Johnson, Seward 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Booth instructors fellow conspirators at 13:39)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, 7:00 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — Actor John Wilkes Booth met for a final time with all his fellow conspirators tonight, instructing Lewis Powell to kill Secretary of State William H. Seward at his home, George Atzerodt to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson at his residence, the Kirkwood Hotel, and David E. Herold to guide Powell to the Seward house and then out of Washington to rendezvous with Booth in Maryland. Continue reading Booth instructs fellow conspirators to kill VP Johnson, Seward 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)

Booth learns Lincoln will attend play tonight at Ford’s Theater 160 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 14, 1865, afternoon at 13:20-13:39)

(Good Friday, April 14, 1865, at around noon; during the American Civil War) — When actor John Wilkes Booth dropped by Ford’s Theatre today in Washington, D.C., to pick up his mail today, he learned that President Abraham Lincoln and Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant (and their respective wives) would be attending a performance of the British hit comedy Our American Cousin that evening (the Grants would bow out at the last minute, replaced by Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris, daughter of New York Senator Ira Harris).

500,000 view FDR’s final march in Washington 80 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1945)


Video: 'The funeral procession for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt April 14, 1945'

(Saturday, April 14, 1945, 11:20 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — Along streets that seemed heavy with a still and severely controlled grief, and which were silent but for the somber intermittent hymns of the military bands and the soft footfalls of marching service men and women, the body of Franklin D. Roosevelt was carried today upon a black caisson of honor back to the White House for the official farewell of the United States and of all the friendly world. Continue reading 500,000 view FDR’s final march in Washington 80 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1945)

President Truman assumes duties, tells reporters to ‘pray for me now’ 80 years ago this hour (Apr 13 1945)

truman

(Friday, April 13, 1945, luncheon began at 12:30 p.m. EWT; during World War II) –President Harry S. Truman, beginning his first full day in the nation’s highest office following the sudden death of President Roosevelt, asked the American people for their prayers today. Continue reading President Truman assumes duties, tells reporters to ‘pray for me now’ 80 years ago this hour (Apr 13 1945)