(Thursday, January 20, 1972, 12:30 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Richard M. Nixon urged the Democratic Congress in an election-year State of the Union message today to rise above politics and enact his array of stalled legislative proposals in order to attain “a new prosperity without war.”

Video: JFK addresses the economy

(Thursday, January 11, 1962) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy asked for tariff-slashing powers in laying before Congress today a massive legislative program he described as keyed to “fulfill the world’s hope by fulfilling our own faith.” Continue reading Kennedy maps vigorous plan of action 50 years ago today (1962) →

(Wednesday, January 9, 1952, 12:30 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Harry S Truman summoned the nation today to “move full steam ahead” in its rearmament drive because the “threat of world war is still very real.”

The president, in his annual State of the Union message, charted a stern course of continued high taxes, greater military expansion, tougher wage-price controls, fewer civilian goods and more foreign aid.

Video: Hoffa reunited with wife (at 1:15)

(Thursday, December 23, 1971) — James Hoffa, the former Teamsters Union president, was reunited today with his ailing wife and family, hours after being freed from federal prison by U.S. President Richard Nixon.

Video: Kennedys in Latin America (Dec. 15-18)

(Monday, December 18, 1961) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy concluded a weekend trip to Latin America this morning, one night after attending a state dinner at the San Carlos Palace in Bogota, Columbia. Kennedy also visited Puerto Rico and Venezuela, where his wife Jackie addressed a delighted crowd in Spanish.

Video: 'JFK' trailer

(Tuesday, December 17, 1991) — JFK, a film which examines the events leading to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and alleged subsequent cover-up, through the eyes of former New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (played by Kevin Costner), had its world premiere tonight at the Mann Village Theater in Westwood, Los Angeles, California. Continue reading ‘JFK’ premieres in Los Angeles 20 years ago tonight (1991) →

Video: Mrs. Kennedy speaks Spanish (at 1:52)

(Saturday, December 16, 1961) — During a tour of Latin America with her husband, U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy spoke to a crowd in Spanish today in La Morita, Venezuela, about the rights of all people to a fair-paying job and a decent education and lifestyle.

Video: Bill Clinton announces he'll run for president (Oct. 3, 1991)

(Sunday, December 15, 1991, 6:30 p.m. EST) — The six Democratic presidential candidates, making their nationally televised debut tonight, belittled U.S. President George Bush as “Scrooge” and “King George” while quarreling among themselves on economic policies and other issues.

The 90-minute debate from NBC’s studios in Washington was the first of seven planned for the 1992 presidential campaign season (click here to watch tonight’s full debate).

Video: Smith trial documentary (first 10 minutes)

(Wednesday, December 11, 1991, 5:10 p.m. ET) — After deliberating for 77 minutes, a jury acquitted William K. Smith today of charges that he raped a woman at the Kennedy family’s Palm Beach estate one moonlit night last Easter weekend. Continue reading William Kennedy Smith acquitted of rape charge 20 years ago this hour (1991) →

(Monday, December 4, 1961, evening) — Edward Kennedy, 29, youngest brother of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, stated tonight he is a candidate for the Senate seat former held by the president.

The statement was made at a meeting in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, of some 30 prospective delegates to the Democratic state convention next year.