Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Oliver North insists his superiors backed Iran-Contra deals 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 7 1987)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '1987 Iran Contra Hearings 1'

(Tuesday, July 7, 1987, 8:15 a.m. EDT) — After more than seven months of silence, Lieut. Col. Oliver North finally began his long-awaited public testimony at the Iran-Contra hearing today, telling Congress, often in combative tones, that the secret operations he ran out of the White House were conducted only under orders from his superiors. Continue reading Oliver North insists his superiors backed Iran-Contra deals 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 7 1987) →

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum dedicated 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 6 1957)

1950s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Truman Library Dedication 1957/7/8'

(Saturday, July 6, 1957, afternoon CDT) — The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, a presidential library and future resting place of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States (1945–1953), was dedicated today in Independence, Missouri, with former President Herbert Hoover, Chief Justice Earl Warren and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt among those in attendance. Continue reading Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum dedicated 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 6 1957) →

1988 Democratic presidential candidates hold first debate 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1987)

1980s, U.S. Presidents

(Wednesday, July 1, 1987, 9:00 p.m. EDT) — Seven Democratic presidential hopefuls gathered tonight in Houston for their first debate of the 1988 campaign, during which they fired salvo after salvo at Republican term-limited President Ronald Reagan, but hardly a shot at each other.

President Reagan nominates Bork to U.S. Supreme Court 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1987)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '7/1/87: Bork Nominated to Supreme Court'

(Wednesday, July 1, 1987, 2:30 p.m. EDT) — President Ronald Reagan nominated federal appeals court judge Robert H. Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court today, setting off a tempestuous confirmation process that ended with Bork’s rejection by the Senate. Continue reading President Reagan nominates Bork to U.S. Supreme Court 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1987) →

Truman becomes first president to address NAACP 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 29 1947)

1940s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (June 29, 1947, at 38:11)

(Sunday, June 29, 1947, 4:30 p.m. EDT) — President Harry S. Truman became the first President to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People today, declaring that the nation has “reached the turning point in the long history of its efforts to guarantee freedom and equality to all our citizens” in a speech at the closing session of the civil rights organization’s 38th annual conference at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Continue reading Truman becomes first president to address NAACP 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 29 1947) →

Truman writes about upcoming historic speech to NAACP 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 28 1947)

1940s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (June 28, 1947, at 37:56)

(Saturday, June 28, 1947) — President Harry S. Truman wrote his sister a letter today, mentioning his upcoming speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: “I’ve got to make a speech tomorrow to the Society for the Advancement of Colored People and I wish I didn’t have to make it… Mamma won’t like what I say.” Continue reading Truman writes about upcoming historic speech to NAACP 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 28 1947) →

Former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr indicted on treason, high misdemeanor 210 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 24 1807)

1800s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'United States v. Aaron Burr 1977 Judicial Conference of the United States'

(Wednesday, June 24, 1807) — Former Vice President Aaron Burr was indicted today by a grand jury in Richmond, Virginia, on charges of 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 indicted on treason, high misdemeanor 210 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 24 1807) →

Congress overrides Truman’s veto of anti-labor Taft-Hartley Act 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1947)

1940s, U.S. Presidents

(Monday, June 23, 1947, 3:17 p.m. EDT) — The Senate by 68 to 25 joined the House today in overriding President Harry S. Truman’s veto of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, better known as the Taft-Hartley Act, designed to limit the power of organized labor (click here to watch “Target Labor And Taft-Hartley” video).

LBJ hosts Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin at Glassboro Summit Conference 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1967)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: '1967 Glassboro Summit'

(Friday, June 23, 1967, 11:22 a.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President Lyndon B. Johnson, Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin and their advisers opened a three-day summit today at Glassboro State College in New Jersey, talking for five-and-a-half hours about the Middle East, Vietnam and arms control. Continue reading LBJ hosts Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin at Glassboro Summit Conference 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1967) →

Mitchell becomes first former U.S. Attorney General to go to prison 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 22 1977)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate

(Wednesday, June 22, 1977, 11:25 a.m. CST) — John N. Mitchell, 63, became the first former U.S. Attorney General to go to prison today as he began serving a sentence in Montgomery, Alabama, for his role in the Watergate cover-up.