Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

State funeral held for U.S. President Warren G. Harding in Capitol rotunda 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 8 1923)


Video: 'Warren G. Harding: America's 29th President' (Aug. 8, 1923, at 8:56)

(Wednesday, August 8, 1923; the caison bearing Harding’s body arrived on the Capitol plaza at 11:21 a.m. EDT, ceremonies were completed by noon)Warren G. Harding, the 29th U.S. President who died of a heart attack on Aug. 2, 1923, while in office, was honored today by a state funeral inside the Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C. Continue reading State funeral held for U.S. President Warren G. Harding in Capitol rotunda 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 8 1923)

Fourth child of U.S. President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy born five and a half weeks early 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 7 1963)


Video: 'Press Secretary Pierre Salinger announces the birth of Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, August 7, 1963'

(Wednesday, August 7, 1963, 12:52 p.m. EDT) — First lady Jacqueline Kennedy became the first sitting U.S. first lady to give birth since Frances Folsom Cleveland in 1897 when Patrick Bouvier Kennedy was born today by emergency caesarean section, five and a half weeks early, at the Otis Air Force Base Hospital in Bourne, Massachusetts.

He was quickly transferred to the Children’s Hospital Boston, and would die 39 hours later of respiratory problems.

Mrs. Kennedy had suffered a miscarriage in 1955, followed the next year by a stillborn baby girl that the Kennedys planned to name Arabella after a ship with that name.

Two healthy children followed: Caroline in 1957 and John Jr. in 1960.

Jackie had taken Caroline and John Jr. for a pony ride this morning in Osterville, Massachusetts. While the children were riding, Kennedy felt labor pains.

Her obstetrician, John W. Walsh, was summoned, and they were taken by helicopter to Otis Air Force Base.

The president’s secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, hurried into the Oval Office at 11:43 a.m. EDT to report that Jackie had gone into premature labor on Cape Cod.

While his father was aboard Air Force One, the infant Kennedy was born by emergency caesarean section, performed by Dr. Walsh, who had also delivered Mrs. Kennedy of John Jr. in 1960.


Video: 'Kennedy Baby In Trouble (1963)'

The infant’s birth weight was 4 pounds 10+1?2 ounces (2.11 kg).

Shortly after birth, Kennedy developed symptoms of hyaline membrane disease (HMD), now called infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS). It was detected by breathing difficulties within minutes.

The president arrived, saw his son in distress, and sent for a chaplain. The infant was quickly baptized, named Patrick after his great-grandfather Patrick Joseph Kennedy (1858–1929). He was given the middle name of Bouvier after his mother’s maiden name.

The president was allowed to wheel the baby in an incubator to the First Lady’s bedside.

James E. Drorbaught, the pediatric specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital, was flown by helicopter from Boston to consult on his case, and he recommended transfer to Boston. Five hours after birth, the infant, accompanied by Dr. Drorbaught, was rushed by ambulance to Boston Children’s Hospital, 70 miles (110 km) away, in under 90 minutes.

The transfer to the hospital in Boston was initially reported as a “precautionary measure,” the White House said. The baby’s condition was accurately reported as HMD, but it was also reported that it would take at least four days to assess his condition and that he was being given medication to assist his condition.

At the time, all that could be done for a baby with hyaline membrane disease was to keep the patient’s blood chemistry as close to normal as possible. Led by Dr. Drorbaught, who stayed awake the entire time, the hospital tried everything possible to save the infant’s life.

The baby was given hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in which he was placed in a hyperbaric chamber filled with 100% oxygen and pressurized to greater than one atmosphere. At the time, the treatment was revolutionary; The New York Times described it as “one of the newest interests of medical researchers.”

Calvin Coolidge sworn in as 30th U.S. president upon death of Warren G. Harding in Plymouth Notch, Vermont 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 3 1923)


Video: 'This Place in History: Coolidge Homestead'

(Friday, August 3, 1923, 2:47 p.m. EST)Calvin Coolidge, the 29th vice president of the United States, was sworn-in as the 30th President of the United States early this morning at his family home in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, succeeding to the presidency upon the passing of President Warren G. Harding, who had died of natural causes in San Francisco four hours and 17 minutes prior. Continue reading Calvin Coolidge sworn in as 30th U.S. president upon death of Warren G. Harding in Plymouth Notch, Vermont 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 3 1923)

U.S. President Warren G. Harding, 57, dies of a heart attack in San Francisco 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1923)


Video: 'Harding Dead (1920-1923)'

(Thursday, August 2, 1923, at around 7:30 p.m. PST)Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States, died tonight of congestive heart failure during a conversation with his wife in the Palace Hotel’s presidential suite in San Francisco, California. Continue reading U.S. President Warren G. Harding, 57, dies of a heart attack in San Francisco 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1923)

U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew formally notified he’s under investigation on charges of bribery, extortion and tax fraud 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1973)


Video: 'SYND 22-8-73 VICE PRESIDENT AGNEW PRESS STATEMENT ON HIS INDICTMENT'

(Thursday, August 2, 1973) — U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew was formally notified today that he was under federal investigation, unrelated to the Watergate scandal, for possible violations of bribery, conspiracy and tax fraud. Continue reading U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew formally notified he’s under investigation on charges of bribery, extortion and tax fraud 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1973)

U.S. Navy Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 rammed and sunk by Japanese destroyer 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1943)


Video: 'American Experience: JFK & the PT 109'

(Monday, August 2, 1943, 2:27 a.m. local time; part of the the Solomon Islands campaign of the Pacific theater of World War II) — The U.S. Navy patrol torpedo boat PT-109, with a crew of 13 commanded by Lieutenant (j.g.) John F. Kennedy, future United States president, was traveling this morning through the Blackett Strait in the Solomon Islands, when it was rammed and sunk by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri. Continue reading U.S. Navy Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 rammed and sunk by Japanese destroyer 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1943)

U.S. President John F. Kennedy calls limited nuclear test ban treaty a ‘victory for mankind’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 26 1963)


Video: 'President Kennedy radio and television address on the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, July 26, 1963'

(Friday, July 26, 1963, 7:00 p.m. EDT; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy, speaking to the nation tonight in a “spirit of hope,” described the treaty for a Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as a “victory for mankind” in its pursuit of peace. Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy calls limited nuclear test ban treaty a ‘victory for mankind’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 26 1963)

U.S. President Gerald R. Ford born in Omaha, Nebraska 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 14 1913)


Video: 'Gerald Ford Biography: U.S. President and Congressman'

(Monday, July 14, 1913, 12:43 a.m. CST)Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States (1974-1977) and the 40th Vice President of the United States (1973-1974), was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., today at 3202 Woolworth Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska, where his parents lived with his paternal grandparents. Continue reading U.S. President Gerald R. Ford born in Omaha, Nebraska 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 14 1913)

Alexander Butterfield privately reveals existence of Nixon’s secret taping system 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 13 1973)


Video: 'The Nixon Tapes'

(Friday, July 13, 1973 2:00-6:30 p.m. EDT; during the Watergate Scandal) — Alexander Butterfield, the former chief assistant to White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman, under questioning by Senate Watergate Committee staff members behind closed doors, revealed today that almost all of President Richard Nixon’s conversations in the Oval Office of the White House had been tape recorded, the first indication to investigators of the Watergate scandal of a previously unknown source of evidence. Continue reading Alexander Butterfield privately reveals existence of Nixon’s secret taping system 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 13 1973)

New York City draft riots erupt in Manhattan during American Civil War 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 13 1863)


Video: 'In Search Of History - The Civil War Draft Riots (History Channel Documentary)'

(Monday, July 13, 1863, 10:00 a.m. local time; during the New York City draft riots, part of Opposition to the American Civil War) — The four-day New York City draft riots, widely regarded as the culmination of white working-class discontent with new laws passed by Congress that year to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War, began today when a furious crowd of around 500, led by the volunteer firemen of Engine Company 33 (known as the “Black Joke”), attacked the assistant Ninth District provost marshal’s office, at Third Avenue and 47th Street in the city’s borough of Manhattan, where the second drawing of draft numbers was taking place. Continue reading New York City draft riots erupt in Manhattan during American Civil War 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 13 1863)