Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Kennedy asks newspaper editors to sit on story confirming Soviet missiles in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: October 21, 1962 (at 0:22)

(Sunday, October 21, 1962, day six of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy telephoned newspaper editors-in-chief at The New York Times and The Washington Post to ask the editors to refrain from printing any stories of the impending military actions related to the discovery of deployed Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba until after his national address the following day, by which time the American fleet was in position to enforce a blockade. Continue reading Kennedy asks newspaper editors to sit on story confirming Soviet missiles in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962) →

Kennedy, advisers decide to quarantine Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: October 20, 1962 (at 0:00)

(Saturday, October 20, 1962, day five of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy, in Chicago campaigning for congressional candidates, decides to return to the White House as the crisis reaches a new urgency. After five hours of discussion with top advisors, a quarantine is decided upon. Continue reading Kennedy, advisers decide to quarantine Cuba 50 years ago today (1962) →

Kennedy advisers debate whether to bomb, invade and/or blockade Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: October 19, 1962 (at 8:08)

(Friday, October 19, 1962, day four of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy met today with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the military options for responding to the missiles in Cuba. Continue reading Kennedy advisers debate whether to bomb, invade and/or blockade Cuba 50 years ago today (1962) →

Gromyko lies to JFK about Soviet military actions in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: October 18, 1962 (at 7:40)

(Thursday, October 18, 1962, 5:00 p.m. EDT, day three of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko met with U.S. President John F. Kennedy today at the White House and assured him that Soviet military actions in Cuba were purely defensive. Continue reading Gromyko lies to JFK about Soviet military actions in Cuba 50 years ago today (1962) →

Former First Lady Bess Truman dies 30 years ago this hour (1982)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Bess Truman'

(Monday, October 18, 1982, 4:38 a.m. CDT) — Former U.S. First Lady Bess Truman, who served from 1945 to 1953, died today from congestive heart failure at her home in Independence, Missouri. Aged 97 years at her death, Truman remains the longest lived First Lady in United States history.

Nixon turns against critics as peace in Vietnam nears 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: Oct. 16, 1972 (1:40)

(Monday, October 16, 1972, during the Vietnam War, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon, in a surprise appearance before a Washington gathering of wives and families of prisoners of war and men missing in action, declared today that he got “precious little support” for his Vietnam strategy from those who, he said, are supposed to be the opinion leaders of the country. Continue reading Nixon turns against critics as peace in Vietnam nears 40 years ago today (1972) →

FBI finds Nixon aides sabotaged Democrats, Washington Post reports 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: Oct. 10, 1972 (at 12:31)

(Tuesday, October 10, 1972, during the Watergate scandal) — FBI agents have established that the Watergate bugging incident stemmed from a massive campaign of political spying and sabotage conducted on behalf of President Nixon’s re-election and directed by officials of the White House and the Committee for the Re-election of the President, the Washington Post reported today. Continue reading FBI finds Nixon aides sabotaged Democrats, Washington Post reports 40 years ago today (1972) →

Nixon to Eisenhower: ‘Shit or get off the pot’ 60 years ago this hour (1952)

1950s, U.S. Presidents


Video: Sept. 21, 1952 (at 4:30)

(Sunday, September 21, 1952, 10:00 p.m. PDT, during the 1952 U.S. presidential campaign) — During a telephone call, GOP vice presidential nominee Richard Nixon, who had decided to make a television/radio broadcast to defend himself against charges he had improperly kept a “secret” fund, asked GOP presidential nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower if the general would be able to make a decision on Nixon’s fate immediately after the broadcast.

When Eisenhower hesitated, Nixon angrily burst out: “General, there comes a time in matters like this when you’ve either got to shit or get off the pot.”

Eisenhower replied that it might take three or four days to gauge public reaction.

Nixon denies ‘secret’ fund was illegal or unethical 60 years ago tonight (1952)

1950s, U.S. Presidents


Video: Sept. 20, 1952 (at 3:08)

(Saturday, September 20, 1952, during the 1952 U.S. presidential campaign) — Two days after the New York Post reported a “secret” campaign fund for Richard Nixon, the GOP vice presidential nominee told supporters in Portland, Oregon, that it was a lie that he took the money for his personal use and he denied that it was illegal and unethical as charged.