Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

President George Washington lays cornerstone of U.S. Capitol 230 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 18 1793)

1790s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Washington Places the First Cornerstone of the US Capitol Building'

(Wednesday, September 18, 1793, Washington and his Masonic entourage arrived in Federal City (District of Columbia) at 10:00 a.m. local time; during the United States Capitol cornerstone laying) — President George Washington, along with eight other Freemasons dressed in masonic regalia, laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol, the home of the legislative branch of American government, today atop Jenkins Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in Federal City (District of Columbia). Continue reading President George Washington lays cornerstone of U.S. Capitol 230 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 18 1793) →

Rabin and Arafat sign Oslo Accords at White House as Clinton applauds ‘brave gamble’ 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 13 1993)

1990s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles (1993)'

(Monday, September 13, 1993, 11:43 a.m. EDT; during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, part of the Arab–Israeli conflict) — In a triumph of hope over history, Yitzhak Rabin, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Yasir Arafat, the chairman of the P.L.O., shook hands today on the White House lawn, sealing the Oslo Accords, the first agreement between Jews and Palestinians to end their conflict and share the holy land along the River Jordan that they both call home. Continue reading Rabin and Arafat sign Oslo Accords at White House as Clinton applauds ‘brave gamble’ 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 13 1993) →

U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy marries Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 12 1953)

1950s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Wedding of John F. Kennedy & Jacqueline Bouvier in Color'

(Saturday, September 12, 1953, 11:00 a.m. EDT) — U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy, 36, married Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, 24, today at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island, in a mass celebrated by Boston’s Archbishop Richard Cushing. Continue reading U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy marries Jacqueline Lee Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 12 1953) →

Chilean President Salvador Allende dies during violent military coup d’état supported by CIA 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 11 1973)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'CIA, Chile & Allende' (Sept. 11, 1973, at 8:51)

(Tuesday, September 11, 1973, approximately 2:00 p.m. Chile Standard Time; during the 1973 Chilean coup d’état) — Chilean President Salvador Allende, the first Marxist to be elected president in a liberal democracy in Latin America, shot himself with an AK-47 assault rifle today during a U.S.-backed violent coup d’état led by General Augusto Pinochet, commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army. Continue reading Chilean President Salvador Allende dies during violent military coup d’état supported by CIA 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 11 1973) →

Sonnie Hereford IV becomes first African-American child to integrate an Alabama public school 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Hidden History: Integration of Alabama Schools'

(Monday, September 9, 1963, morning, local time; during the civil rights movement) — Sonnie Hereford IV, 6, became the first African-American student to integrate public schools in Alabama this morning following a lengthy court battle. Continue reading Sonnie Hereford IV becomes first African-American child to integrate an Alabama public school 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1963) →

U.S. President Kennedy warns Buddhist crisis imperils Vietnam as ‘CBS Evening News’ becomes network TV’s first half-hour nightly newscast 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 2 1963)

1960s, Cold War, Television 1960s, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'CBS Evening News [9-2-1963] First broadcast under new title/format'

(Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 1963, 6:30 p.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite was expanded from 15 to 30 minutes tonight, becoming network television’s first half-hour nightly newscast in the United States. Continue reading U.S. President Kennedy warns Buddhist crisis imperils Vietnam as ‘CBS Evening News’ becomes network TV’s first half-hour nightly newscast 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 2 1963) →

U.S. President John F. Kennedy meets with civil rights leaders following March on Washington 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 28 1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'August 28, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy meets with the leaders of the March On Washington'

(Wednesday, August 28, 1963, 5:00-6:12 p.m. EDT; during the civil rights movement) — Following the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, highlighted by the “I Have A Dream” speech delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr., 10 leaders of the event walked over to the White House today for a 72-minute meeting with President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson in the Oval Office. Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy meets with civil rights leaders following March on Washington 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 28 1963) →

U.S. President Benjamin Harrison born in North Bend, Ohio 190 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1833)

1830s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Benjamin Harrison: Make Grandpa Proud (1889 - 1893)'

(Tuesday, August 20, 1833) — Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States from 1889 to 1893 and a grandson of President William Henry Harrison (1841) and a great-grandson of Benjamin Harrison V, a Founding Father, was born today on a farm by the Ohio River in North Bend, Ohio. Continue reading U.S. President Benjamin Harrison born in North Bend, Ohio 190 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1833) →

U.S. President Richard Nixon says Watergate tapes must remain confidential 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (Aug 15 1973)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'Richard Nixon-Address to the Nation About the Watergate Investigations (August 15, 1973)'

(Wednesday, August 15, 1973, 9:00 p.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — In a nationwide radio and television address from the Oval Office, U.S. President Richard Nixon denied anew tonight any involvement in the Watergate conspiracy, road-tested the executive privilege argument about the Watergate tapes, decried a “backward-looking obsession” with the scandal, and appealed for Americans to help him “get on with the urgent business of our nation.” Continue reading U.S. President Richard Nixon says Watergate tapes must remain confidential 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (Aug 15 1973) →

President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy’s fourth child dies at age 39 hours and 12 minutes 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 9 1963)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Aug. 9. 1963 - Pierre Salinger Announces Death of Patrick Bouvier Kennedy'

(Friday, August 9, 1963, 4:04 a.m. EDT) — Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, fourth child and second son of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, died today from complications of hyaline membrane disease (HMD) at the Children’s Hospital Boston only 39 hours and 12 minutes after being delivered by emergency caesarean section, five and a half weeks early, at the Otis Air Force Base Hospital in Bourne, Massachusetts. Continue reading President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy’s fourth child dies at age 39 hours and 12 minutes 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 9 1963) →