Video: 'United States v. Aaron Burr 1977 Judicial Conference of the United States' (trial at 45:45)

(Monday, August 3, 1807) — Former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr went on trial today before a federal court in Richmond, Virginia, charged with treason (for assembling an armed force to take New Orleans and separate the Western from the Atlantic states) and high misdemeanor (for sending a military expedition against territories belonging to Spain). Continue reading Former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr stands trial for treason 210 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 3 1807) →

Video: 'Calvin Coolidge -- I Do Not Choose to Run'

(Tuesday, August 2, 1927, 11:30 a.m. MDT) — U.S. President Calvin Coolidge today dramatically and unexpectedly, and without consultation with friends, issued the following statement to the correspondents at his “Summer White House” in the Black Hills in South Dakota: “I do not choose to run for President in nineteen twenty-eight.” Continue reading President Coolidge declares: ‘I do not choose to run for President in nineteen twenty-eight’ 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1927) →

(Thursday, July 22, 1937, 2:55 p.m. EDT) — The U.S. Senate voted 70–20 today to defeat President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s controversial proposal to add more Supreme Court justices to obtain favorable rulings regarding New Deal legislation.

Video: 'Reshaping the Supreme Court' (July 20, 1937, at 1:37)

(Tuesday, July 20, 1937, 4:30-5:50 p.m. EDT) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Vice President John Garner today what his chances were with Congress regarding his plan to increase the number of Supreme Court justices to obtain favorable rulings regarding New Deal legislation. Continue reading VP Garner tells FDR ‘you’re beat’ on ‘court-packing plan’ 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (July 20 1937) →

Video: 'Presidential Succession Act of 1947'

(Friday, July 18, 1947) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman today signed the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which clarified the order of succession in the event of the death of a sitting president by placing the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore next in the line of succession after the vice president. Continue reading House speaker placed second in line to U.S. presidency 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (July 18 1947) →

Video: 'Lady Bird Johnson Dies'

(Wednesday, July 11, 2007, 4:18 p.m. CDT) — Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson, the former first lady (1963–69) who’d championed conservation and worked tenaciously for the political career of her husband, President Lyndon B. Johnson, died this afternoon of natural causes in Austin, Texas, at age 94. Continue reading Former First Lady ‘Lady Bird’ Johnson dies 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 11 2007) →

Video: 'John Quincy Adams - Mini Biography'

(Friday, July 11, 1767) — John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States (1825-1829), was born today to John Adams, the second President of the United States (1797-1801), and his wife Abigail. second First Lady of the United States (1797-1801), in a part of Braintree, Massachusetts, that is now Quincy. Continue reading U.S. President John Quincy Adams born in Braintree, Massachusetts 250 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 11 1767) →