Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

President Lincoln signs Bixby letter 150 years ago today (Nov 21 1864)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'George C. Marshall reads Abraham Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixbey'

(Monday, November 21, 1864; during American Civil War) — A letter was signed tdoay by President Abraham Lincoln expressing condolences to Lydia Bixby, a widow in Boston whose five sons supposedly died while fighting in the Civil War.

As it turned out, only two of Mrs. Bixby’s sons had been killed in battle. Also, historians are not certain that Lincoln actually wrote the letter.

Still, the text has been widely praised as one of Lincoln’s finest works of writing alongside the Gettysburg Address and his second inaugural address

‘Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman’ TV documentary series debuts 50 years ago this hour (Nov 10 1964)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman - "Dialogue with the Future, Part I"' (episode 19)

(Tuesday, November 10, 1964, 7:30 p.m. EST) — Decision: The Conflicts of Harry S. Truman, a syndicated television documentary memoir series on the former U.S. president, debuted tonight WHDH-TV (Channel 5), the CBS affiliate in Boston, pre-empting World War I.

Marine Corps War Memorial dedicated 60 years ago today (Nov 10 1954)

1950s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'Iwo Jima Monument Dedication'

(Wednesday, November 10, 1954) — The Marine Corps Memorial, depicting the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima in 1945, was dedicated today in Arlington, Virginia, with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in attendance.

200,000 welcome Roosevelt in rain to Capital ‘home’ 70 years ago this hour (Nov 10 1944)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President Roosevelt returns to Washington DC after winning a 4th term in the 1944...HD Stock Footage'

(Friday, November 10, 1944, 9:00 a.m. EWT; during the 1944 presidential campaign) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who won an unprecedented fourth term of office three days ago, returned victoriously to Washington today to be greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of many thousands which stood in the pouring rain for at least a half hour to welcome home “the Chief.” Continue reading 200,000 welcome Roosevelt in rain to Capital ‘home’ 70 years ago this hour (Nov 10 1944) →

Senator Johnson re-elected in landslide in midterm elections 60 years ago today (Nov 2 1954)

1950s, U.S. Presidents

(Tuesday, November 2, 1954) — Democratic leader Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas was elected to a second term in the Senate today over Republican Carlos G. Watson 84.6% to 14.9%. And since the Democrats won the majority in the Senate in the midterm elections, Johnson then became majority leader in January 1955 (click here to watch American Experience: LBJ at 39:27)

Actor Ronald Reagan launches political career with paid televised Goldwater speech 50 years ago this hour (Oct 27 1964)

1960s, Television 1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '"A Time for Choosing" by Ronald Reagan'

(Tuesday, October 27, 1964, 9:30 p.m. EST) — Actor (and future President) Ronald Reagan spoke tonight in support of Sen. Barry Goldwater’s 1964 Republican presidential campaign in a paid pre-recorded televised speech he called “A Time for Choosing,” focusing on the importance of a strong defense against Communism and the need for smaller government.

Only presidential Cabinet meeting to be carried on radio, TV 60 years ago this hour (Oct 25 1954)

1950s, U.S. Presidents

(Monday, October 25, 1954, about 7:00 p.m. EST) — A meeting of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Cabinet was broadcast live on radio and television tonight; during the session, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, just returned from Europe, reported on agreements signed in Paris on the future of West Germany (click here to watch the video).

To date, it’s the only presidential Cabinet meeting to be carried on radio and TV.

Funeral for former President Herbert Hoover held 50 years ago this hour (Oct 22 1994)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Funeral of Former President Herbert Hoover (1964)'

(Wednesday, October 22, 1964, 4:33 p.m. EDT) — Led by U.S. President Lyndon Johnson and his Republican challenger Senator Barry Goldwater, New York City bade goodbye to former President Herbert Hoover in a solemn funeral service today. Hoover had died Oct. 20, 1964, at the age of 90.

FDR defies rain, wind to let New York see him 70 years ago today (Oct 21 1944)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Roosevelt In New York Aka Presidential Campaign (1944)'

(Saturday, October 21, 1944, during World War II) — As heavy rain and autumn winds pelted the five boroughs, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, approaching an election for an historic fourth term, toured through fifty-one miles of New York City streets today in a large motorcade.

With his wife Eleanor at his side, the aging president defied terrible weather to greet his fellow Americans from an open car (and sometimes without a hat).