Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

President John F. Kennedy suspends all U.S. atmospheric nuclear testing 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 10 1963)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'JFK'S "PEACE" SPEECH AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. (JUNE 10, 1963) (VIDEO VERSION)'

(Monday, June 10, 1963, 10:31 a.m. EDT; during Kennedy’s American University speech, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced today that he was suspending all atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons and work towards a nuclear test-ban treaty with the Soviet Union and other atomic powers during his commencement address — titled “A Strategy of Peace” — at American University in Washington, D.C. Continue reading President John F. Kennedy suspends all U.S. atmospheric nuclear testing 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 10 1963) →

Brooklyn Bridge linking Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City dedicated 140 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 24 1883)

1880s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Modern Marvels: Building the Brooklyn Bridge (S2, E20) | Full Episode' (May 24, 1883, at 48:40)

(Thursday, May 24, 1883, ceremonies were scheduled for 2:00-5:30 p.m., local time) — The Brooklyn Bridge, a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge linking New York City and Brooklyn by spanning the East River, was dedicated today by U.S. President Chester Alan Arthur, New York Governor Grover Cleveland, and Emily Roebling, the wife of the bridge’s main engineer, Washington Roebling. Continue reading Brooklyn Bridge linking Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City dedicated 140 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 24 1883) →

FDR, Churchill set Allied cross-Channel landing into northern France for May 1, 1944 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1943)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II

(Wednesday, May 19, 1943, 6:00-7:07 p.m. EWT; during the Third Washington Conference, codenamed Trident, during World War II) — At a meeting of the Combined Chiefs of Staff at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill learned tonight that agreement had been reached for the buildup in England “of sufficient force to secure a bridgehead on the [European] Continent from which further offensive operations could be carried out” and that a cross-Channel operation “had finally been agreed upon.” Continue reading FDR, Churchill set Allied cross-Channel landing into northern France for May 1, 1944 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1943) →

U.S. Senate committee begins televised hearings into the Watergate scandal 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1973)

1970s, Television 1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'ObamaWatch: Sen. Ervin's Opening Remarks, Chairman Senate Select Watergate Committee May 17 1973'

(Thursday, May 17, 1973, 10:02 a.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — The United States Senate Watergate Committee, known officially as the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, a special committee established by the United States Senate to investigate the Watergate scandal, opened hearings today into a break-in at Democratic National headquarters in Washington. Continue reading U.S. Senate committee begins televised hearings into the Watergate scandal 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1973) →

U.S. President George W. Bush declares 2003 invasion of Iraq over in ‘Mission Accomplished’ speech 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 2003)

2000s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Five Years Since "mission Accomplished" Speech'

(Thursday May 2, 2003, 6:01 p.m. PDT during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, part of the Iraq War, the Iraq conflict and the War on terror) — U.S. President George W. Bush declared an end to the invasion of Iraq in the Mission Accomplished speech, delivered tonight from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln before thousands of uniformed sailors and aviators as the ship approached San Diego Harbor. Continue reading U.S. President George W. Bush declares 2003 invasion of Iraq over in ‘Mission Accomplished’ speech 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 2003) →

U.S. President Richard Nixon condemns the actions of those involved in Watergate following the ouster of four top aides 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 30 1973)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'Richard Nixon-Address to the Nation About the Watergate Investigations (April 30, 1973)'

(Monday, April 30, 1973, 9:00 p.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — As the Watergate scandal became more complicated, U.S. President Richard Nixon told the nation tonight that he accepted the resignations of three top staff members who have been implicated, including H. R. Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, and White House counsel John Dean, who was actually fired. Continue reading U.S. President Richard Nixon condemns the actions of those involved in Watergate following the ouster of four top aides 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 30 1973) →

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum dedicated in Washington, D.C., to honor victims of Nazi extermination 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1993)

1990s, The Holocaust, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'United States Holocaust Memorial Museum opening ceremony, April 23rd, 1993'

(Thursday, April 22, 1993, the ceremony began at approximately 11:00 a.m. EST; President Clinton spoke at 12:43 p.m. EST) — Nearly 50 years after the furnaces of Nazi Germany devoured their last victims, survivors, and world leaders gathered beneath a bleak, disconsolate sky today to dedicate a museum chronicling man’s descent into darkness and the indifference to the evil that marked the era. Continue reading U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum dedicated in Washington, D.C., to honor victims of Nazi extermination 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1993) →

U.S. Vice President William R. King, 67, dies of tuberculosis in Selma, Alabama, 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 18 1853)

1850s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'William Rufus King | Alabama Legacy Moment'

(Monday, April 18, 1853, 6:00 p.m. local time) — William R. King, the 13th vice president of the United States, died today in Selma, Dallas County, Alabama. of tuberculosis after 45 days in office. Continue reading U.S. Vice President William R. King, 67, dies of tuberculosis in Selma, Alabama, 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 18 1853) →

President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1943)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'Roosevelt Unveils Jefferson Memorial (1943)'

(Tuesday, April 13, 1943, 11:45 a.m.-12:35 p.m. EWT) — On the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth and at the height of World War II, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the majestic Jefferson Memorial today in Washington, D.C., as a “shrine to freedom.” Continue reading President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1943) →

U.S. President Thomas Jefferson born in Shadwell, Virginia, 280 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1743)

1740s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Thomas Jefferson - Author of The Declaration of Indepence & 3rd U.S. President | Mini Bio | BIO'

(Wednesday, April 13, 1743) — Thomas Jefferson, an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809, was born today at his family’s home in Shadwell, Goochland County, Virginia, now part of Albemarle County. Continue reading U.S. President Thomas Jefferson born in Shadwell, Virginia, 280 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1743) →