Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale born 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 5 1928)


Video: 'Walter Mondale '84 Convention Intro'

(Thursday, January 5, 1928)Walter Mondale, the 42nd Vice President of the United States who served under President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) and was the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee, was born today in Ceylon, Minnesota. Continue reading U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale born 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 5 1928)

FDR urges capital and labor to cooperate 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1938)


Video: 'Franklin Delano Roosevelt gives message to Congress at Washington DC. HD Stock Footage'

(Monday, January 3 1938, 1:30 p.m. EST) — In a message to Congress on the state of the Union, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appealed today for cooperation between the government and the various segments of the nation in a program to restore the national income to prosperity levels and insure the country’s security “in a world of high tension and disorder.” Continue reading FDR urges capital and labor to cooperate 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1938)

FDR establishes March of Dimes campaign to fight polio 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1938)


Video: 'History of the March of Dimes' (12 videos)

(Monday, January 3, 1938) — The March of Dimes, a U.S. nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality, was established today by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Continue reading FDR establishes March of Dimes campaign to fight polio 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1938)

President Wilson takes over nation’s railroads 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 26 1917)

(Wednesday, December 26, 1917; during World War I) — In what was possibly the largest American experiment with nationalization, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation today authorizing the government to take over operation of the nation’s railroads.

The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) had recommended federal control of the railroad industry to ensure efficient transport of troops and materials for the war effort.

LBJ visits Pope Paul VI at Vatican 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1967)


Video: 'The President: December 1967. MP891.' (Dec. 23, 1967, at 28:58)

(Saturday, December 23, 1967, 8:50 p.m.-10:17 p.m. CET; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — During a 4+ day, 27,000-mile round-the-world journey to promote peace ahead of the Christmas holiday, President Lyndon Johnson met with Pope Paul VI tonight in Vatican City, telling him the United States was ready to stop bombing North Vietnam if the Vietcong and North Vietnamese would offer “some guarantee” of movement toward peace talks. Continue reading LBJ visits Pope Paul VI at Vatican 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1967)

LBJ visits American troops in South Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1967)


Video: 'The President: December 1967. MP891.' (Dec. 23, 1967, at 23:36)

(Saturday, December 23, 1967, 8:43 a.m.-10:25 a.m. local time/1:43-3:25 UTC; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — During a 4+ day, 27,000-mile round-the-world journey to promote peace ahead of the Christmas holiday, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson made an unannounced visit to American troops today in South Vietnam, stopping at the Cam Ranh Base on his way back from memorial services for Australian Prime Minister Holt. Continue reading LBJ visits American troops in South Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1967)

Paul Simon joins Paul Simon on ‘Saturday Night Live’ 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1987)


Video: 'MONOLOGUE: PAUL SIMON AND PAUL SIMON'

(Saturday, December 19, 1987, 11:30 p.m.-1:00 a.m. EST) — In a staged booking mix-up, singer Paul Simon and Democratic presidential candidate Paul Simon, a U.S. Senator from Illinois, both showed up for the opening monologue of tonight‘s edition of NBC’s Saturday Night Live from 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City.

The episode also featured a political ad parody in which a woman (Jan Hooks) tries to let go of the man she’s been missing: Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart.


Video: 'GARY HART: YOU CAN'T GET HIM OUT OF YOUR MIND'

Washington camps for the winter at Valley Forge 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1777)


Video: 'Valley Forge: A Winter Encampment'

(Friday, December 19, 1777, 5:00 p.m. local time; during the American Revolutionary War, part of the American Revolution) — American General George Washington led his poorly fed, ill-equipped army of about 11,000 men today to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia, to camp for the winter. Continue reading Washington camps for the winter at Valley Forge 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1777)

Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappears 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 17 1967)


Video: 'HAROLD HOLT'

(Sunday, December 17, 1967, 12:30 p.m. AEST) — Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt, 59, disappeared today while swimming in the ocean at remote Cheviot Beach, near his resort home in Portsea, Victoria.

Holt’s disappearance sparked “one of the largest search operations in Australian history,” but no trace of his body was ever found.

A memorial service for Holt was held at St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne on Dec. 22, 1967, and attended by numerous world leaders, including U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.


Video: 'The Day Harold Holt Went Missing 17 Dec 1967'

‘Great White Fleet’ sets sail 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1907)


Video: 'Great White Fleet - Decades TV Network'

(Monday, December 16, 1907, 10:00 a.m. local time) — President Theodore Roosevelt was on hand today at Hampton Roads, Virginia, when 16 U.S. Navy battleships with 14,000 sailors and marines, which came to be known as the Great White Fleet, set sail today on a 14-month, 43,000-mile round-the-world voyage to demonstrate American sea power. Continue reading ‘Great White Fleet’ sets sail 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1907)