Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Exhausted FDR arrives in Warm Springs for rest, recuperation 70 years ago today (Mar 30 1945)


Video: 'American Experience - FDR (Franklin Roosevelt) - Part 1/2 (PBS Documentary' (Mar. 30, 1945, at 2:08:24)

(Good Friday, March 30, 1945; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived in Warm Springs, Georgia, today suffering from exhaustion.

The great push to end the war was on, and Roosevelt needed to recuperate to lead it and take part in the momentous events afterward. Total rest was his doctor’s recommendation, and for several days he followed the instructions.

Robert Kennedy places flag on summit of mountain named for his brother 50 years ago this hour (Mar 24 1965)


Video: 'A Kennedy Climbs Mr. Kennedy (1965)'

(Wednesday, March 24, 1965, 5:00 p.m. EST) — Senator Robert F. Kennedy reached the top of Mount Kennedy today and became the first person to scale the 13,900-foot peak. Continue reading Robert Kennedy places flag on summit of mountain named for his brother 50 years ago this hour (Mar 24 1965)

Franklin Roosevelt marries Eleanor Roosevelt in New York City 110 years ago today (Mar 17 1905)


Video: 'Eleanor & Franklin (1976) - ABC: Wedding Day'

(Friday, March 17, 1905, afternoon local time) — President Theodore Roosevelt visited New York City today to attend the wedding of his niece, Eleanor Roosevelt, 20, to her fifth cousin and future president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 23, at the home of Eleanor’s grandmother on East 76th Street. The president gave the bride away. Continue reading Franklin Roosevelt marries Eleanor Roosevelt in New York City 110 years ago today (Mar 17 1905)

President Reagan calls for ‘second revolution’ 30 years ago this hour (Feb 6 1985)


Video: 'State of the Union: President Reagan's State of the Union Speech - 2/6/85'

(Wednesday, February 6, 1985, 9:00 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan called tonight for “a second American revolution of hope and opportunity” in a State of the Union address that celebrated economic and scientific achievements and made scant mention of the spending sacrifices his new budget asks of a broad spectrum of Americans.

Bush urges Congress to ‘save’ Social Security 10 years ago this hour (Feb 2 2005)


Video: 'State of the Union Address'

(Wednesday, February 2, 2005, 9:00 p.m. EST) — In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush called tonight for changes in Social Security that would combine reduced government benefits for younger workers with “a chance to build a nest egg” through personal accounts.

Senator Kennedy flown to Palm Beach following spinal surgery 60 years ago today (Dec 21 1954)

Video: 'December 21, 1954 - Senator John F. Kennedy recovering from spinal operations'

(Tuesday, December 21, 1954) — Senator John F. Kennedy was taken by stretcher to a special plane today so he could be flown from the New York Hospital for Special Surgery to the Kennedy home in Palm Beach, Florida, more than two months after undergoing a spinal operation.

John Wilkes Booth acts in ‘Julius Caesar’ benefit performance in New York City 150 years ago tonight (Nov 25 1864)


Image: John Wilkes Booth, Edwin Booth and Junius Booth, Jr. (from left to right) in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in 1864.

(Friday, November 25, 1864, evening local time; during American Civil War) — Actor John Wilkes Booth (later the assassin of U.S. president Abraham Lincoln) played Mark Antony today in a benefit performance of Julius Caesar at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City (with his brothers Junius, Jr. and Edwin). This landmark production raised funds to erect a statue of Shakespeare in Central Park, which remains to this day. Continue reading John Wilkes Booth acts in ‘Julius Caesar’ benefit performance in New York City 150 years ago tonight (Nov 25 1864)

Ford, Brezhnev reach accord on arms control at Vladivostok 40 years ago today (Nov 24 1974)


Video: 'Meeting in Vladivostok (1974)' (Nov. 23-24, 1974)

(Sunday, November 24, 1974) — American President Gerald Ford and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev agreed today to terms that would limit both nations an “equal aggregate number” of various weapons on the second and final day of the Vladivostok Summit Meeting on Arms Control.

Ford, Brezhnev begin two-day summit in Vladivostok, Russia 40 years ago today (Nov 23 1974)


Video: 'Meeting in Vladivostok (1974)' (Nov. 23-24, 1974)

(Saturday, November 23, 1974) — The Vladivostok Summit Meeting on Arms Control, a two-day summit between American President Gerald Ford and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev for the purpose of extending arms control provisions between the Soviet Union and the United States, began this afternoon in Vladivostok, Russia. Continue reading Ford, Brezhnev begin two-day summit in Vladivostok, Russia 40 years ago today (Nov 23 1974)

Hoover arrives in Bonn for six day-visit in West Germany 60 years ago today (Nov 22 1954)

(Monday, November 22, 1954) — Former President Herbert Hoover, arriving from the United States for a six-day visit as guest of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, received a warm welcome today at the airport in Bonn, West Germany (click here to watch a video of Hoover’s arrival at 22:06).