Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

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


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)

Thousands pay tribute to Nixon at funeral 20 years ago this hour (Apr 27 1994)


Video: 'The Funeral of President Nixon'

(Wednesday, April 27, 1994, 4:00 p.m. PDT) — Former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon was remembered at an outdoor funeral service today attended by all five of his successors at the Nixon presidential library in Yorba Linda, California. Nixon, who had served from 1969 to 1974, had passed away Apr. 22, 1994, at the age of 81 of natural causes.

Nixon’s body flown west for burial 20 years ago this hour (Apr 26 1994)


Video: '1994 Death/Arrival in California of President Richard Nixon 1of6'

(Tuesday, April 26, 1994, 12:30 p.m. PDT) — In a scene worthy of “King Lear,” the usually sunny California sky unleashed thunder, lightning, rain and hail today as the body of former U.S. President Richard Nixon returned to his birthplace in a plain wooden coffin covered by a flag for burial on Apr. 27, 1994. Nixon, who had served from 1969 to 1974, had passed away Apr. 22, 1994, at the age of 81. Continue reading Nixon’s body flown west for burial 20 years ago this hour (Apr 26 1994)

Former U.S. President Richard Nixon suffers a stroke 20 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1994)


Video: 'Richard Nixon has a stroke - news 1994'

(Monday, April 18, 1994, 5:45 p.m EDT) — Former U.S. President Richard Nixon, 81, suffered a stroke today at his Park Ridge, New Jersey, home and was taken by ambulance to New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, where he was in stable condition but not able to speak.

Eisenhower presents ‘domino theory’ 60 years ago today (Apr 7 1954)


Video: '45 85 Part 5' (Apr. 7, 1954, at 8:27)

(Wednesday, April 7, 1954; during First Indochina War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower soberly warned at a news conference today that the fall of French Indochina to the communists could create a “domino” effect in Southeast Asia. The so-called “domino theory” dominated U.S. thinking about the region for the next two decades.

Lincoln writes ‘events have controlled me’ 150 years ago today (Apr 4 1864)

(Monday, April 4, 1864; during the American Civil War) — In a letter to Kentucky newspaper editor Albert G. Hodges, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln today wrote, “I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.”

President Nixon honors Vietnam veterans 40 years ago this hour (Mar 29 1974)


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 10of13 The Village War DivX521 AC3 www MVGroup org' (Mar. 29, 1974, at 444:33)

(Friday, March 29, 1974, 12:35 p.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon said today the Americans who served in Vietnam can be proud that the “American effort … was in good conscience, honorably undertaken and honorably ended.”

FDR diagnosed with hypertensive heart disease 70 years this hour (Mar 28 1944)

(Tuesday, March 28, 1944, 1:10 p.m. EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 62, was referred to Dr. Howard Bruenn, a cardiologist at Bethesda Naval Hospital who, today diagnosed hypertensive heart disease during an examination at Bethesda Naval Hospital (click here to watch video about today’s examination, starting at 3:35:01).