Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Democrats nominate Senator Truman for vice president 70 years ago tonight (July 21 1944)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Democratic Convention Chicago 1944' (VP nomination at 1:32)

(Friday, July 21, 1944, evening CWT; during World War II) — Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri was nominated tonight as the Democratic candidate for Vice President in the fifth and final session of the twenty-eighth national convention of the party, defeating incumbent Vice President Henry Wallace 1,031-105 after votes shifted on the second ballot. Continue reading Democrats nominate Senator Truman for vice president 70 years ago tonight (July 21 1944) →

Ehrlichman, three others found guilty in Ellsberg break-in case 40 years ago today (July 12 1974)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'Ehrlichman Convicted - CBS Radio - Leslie Stahl - July 12, 1974'

(Friday, July 12, 1974; during the Watergate scandal) — John Ehrlichman, former top aide to U.S. President Richard Nixon, and three others were convicted today of conspiring to violate the civil rights of Daniel Ellsberg’s former psychiatrist.

Nixon, Brezhnev sign treaty limiting size of underground nuclear weapons tests 40 years ago today (July 3 1974)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Image: U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (L) joins President Richard Nixon and Russian leaders in a toast after the signing of agreements at the Kremlin on July 3, 1974 following a seven-day summit.

(Wednesday, July 3, 1974; during the Cold War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev signed a treaty today in Moscow limiting the size of underground nuclear weapons tests. Nixon then flew back to the U.S., landing at a small air force base in Maine and gave the nation a report on his foreign travels (click here for video at 2:35:53).

President Richard Nixon arrives in Moscow 40 years ago today (June 27 1974)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents

(Thursday, June 27, 1974; during the Watergate scandal) — U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev vowed to seek lasting world peace as their week of summit talks began today in Moscow in an atmosphere of flag-waving, laughing conviviality.

It was Nixon’s second visit to Moscow as president (the first, in May 1972, was a first for a sitting U.S. president) (click here for video at 2:35:53).

Franklin Roosevelt, disabled by polio, re-enters public arena 90 years ago today (June 26 1924)

1920s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'FDR: The Fighting President (Part lll)' (June 26, 1924, at 2:59)

(Thursday, June 26, 1924) — Franklin D. Roosevelt re-entered the public arena today, moving to the podium at the Democratic National Convention in New York City, assisted only by his two crutches, to nominate New York Governor Al Smith for president.

Three years before the convention, Roosevelt contracted polio, a disease which left him paralyzed from the waist down (click here for more video of this event at 1:14:25).

President John Tyler weds second wife in New York 170 years ago today (Jun 26 1844)

1840s, U.S. Presidents

(Wednesday, June 26, 1844) — U.S. President John Tyler, a 54-year-old widower, married Julia Gardiner, 24, today at the Church of the Ascension in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Gardiner became the 11th (and the youngest up to that time) First Lady of the United States.

‘The Killers’ released in Japan 50 years ago today (May 30 1964)

1960s, Movies 1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Killers’' (trailer)

(Saturday, May 30, 1964) — The Killers, a crime film about two professional hit men who try to find out who hired them and why, was released today in Japan. Continue reading ‘The Killers’ released in Japan 50 years ago today (May 30 1964) →

President Johnson outlines goals of his ‘Great Society’ 50 years ago today (May 22 1964)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" Speech'

(Friday, May 22, 1964) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, speaking today at the University of Michigan, outlined the goals of his “Great Society,” saying that it “rests on abundance and liberty for all” and “demands an end to poverty and racial injustice.” Continue reading President Johnson outlines goals of his ‘Great Society’ 50 years ago today (May 22 1964) →