Video: ‘2/26/87: Tower Commission Report’

(Thursday, February 26, 1987, 11:00 a.m. EST) — The Tower Commission, which investigated the Iran-Contra affair, portrayed U.S. President Ronald Reagan today as a confused and remote figure who failed to understand or control the secret arms deal with Iran, and who thus had to “take responsibility” for a policy that in the end caused ”chaos” at home and embarrassment abroad. Continue reading Tower report: President Reagan, chief advisers responsible for ‘chaos’ in Iran arms deal 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 26 1987) →

(Wednesday, February 20, 1907) — U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt today signed an immigration act which excluded “idiots, imbeciles, feebleminded persons, epileptics, insane persons” from being admitted to the United States.

Video: 'The 25th amendment- leighton arnold'

(Friday, February 10, 1967, 10:44 a.m. PST) — The Twenty-fifth Amendment (Amendment XXV) to the U.S. Constitution, dealing with presidential disability and succession, was ratified today as Nevada adopted it. Continue reading 25th Amendment to U.S. Constitution ratified 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 10 1967) →

Video: 'Barack Obama's Presidential Announcement'

(Saturday, February 10, 2007, shortly after 10:00 a.m. CST) — Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, standing before the Old State Capitol where Abraham Lincoln began his political career, formally announced his candidacy for the White House on today by presenting himself as an agent of generational change who could transform a government hobbled by cynicism, petty corruption and “a smallness of our politics.” Continue reading Obama formally kicks off presidential campaign in Springfield, Illinois 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 10 2007) →

Video: 'February 1987 - Mitch Daniels on Troubles of John McFarlane'

(Monday February 9, 1987, at about 8:00 a.m. EST) — Robert McFarlane, the former White House national security adviser and a prominent figure in investigations of the secret sale of arms to Iran, was admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital today after taking an overdose of Valium, according to his lawyers. Continue reading Former Reagan NSC advisor Bud McFarlane attempts suicide 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1987) →

Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1836'

(Wednesday, February 8, 1837, during the United States presidential election, 1836) — Democratic Rep. Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky became the first Vice President of the United States chosen by the Senate today, defeating Whig VP nominee Rep. Francis Granger of New York by a vote of 36 to 16 divided strictly along party lines. Continue reading Senate elects Richard Mentor Johnson as 9th U.S. Vice President 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1837) →

Video: 'Reshaping the Supreme Court'

(Friday, February 5, 1937, noon EST) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt today proposed the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, which included a provision to increase the number of Supreme Court justices to obtain favorable rulings regarding New Deal legislation that the court had ruled unconstitutional. Continue reading Roosevelt proposes plan to ‘pack’ Supreme Court 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1937) →

Video: '1997 State Of The Union - President Bill Clinton'

(Tuesday, February 4, 1997, 9:15 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Bill Clinton, declaring that Americans “want us to be partners, not partisans,” challenged Congress in his State of the Union address tonight to give the nation’s schools a big spending increase while balancing the budget by 2002. Continue reading President Clinton cites education as top priority in State of Union message 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 4 1997) →

Video: ‘Who is Dan Quayle? Part 1 of 2’

(Tuesday, February 4, 1947) — Dan Quayle, the 44th Vice President of the United States who served under President George H.W. Bush (1989-1993), was born James Danforth Quayle today in Indianapolis, Indiana. Continue reading U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle born 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 4 1947) →