Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Truman halts use of atomic bomb after Japan conveys willingness to surrender 80 years ago today (Aug 10 1945)

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


Video: 'American Experience - Truman (1997) - Part 3' (Aug. 10, 1945, at 43:03/44:26)

(Friday, August 10, 1945; during World War II) — Having dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (Aug. 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (Aug. 9, 1945) and with Japan conveying it’s willingness to surrender (provided the status of Emperor Hirohito remained unchanged), U.S. President Harry S. Truman took the authority to use the atomic bomb back from the military today and placed it once again in his own hands. Continue reading Truman halts use of atomic bomb after Japan conveys willingness to surrender 80 years ago today (Aug 10 1945) →

Portsmouth Peace Conference begins in Kittery, Maine 120 years ago today (Aug 9 1905)

1900s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Scenes and Incidents, Russo-Japanese Peace Conference, Portsmouth, N.H.'

(Wednesday, August 9, 1905) — Japanese and Russian delegations convened the Portsmouth Peace Conference today at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, (by invitation of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt) to negotiate an end to the Russo-Japanese War. Continue reading Portsmouth Peace Conference begins in Kittery, Maine 120 years ago today (Aug 9 1905) →

President Truman signs United Nations Charter 80 years ago this hour (Aug 8 1945)

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

(Wednesday, August 8, 1945, 12:30 p.m. EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman today signed the United Nations Charter, the foundational treaty of the intergovernmental organization known as the United Nations.

Truman shown aerial photographs of Hiroshima bombing aftermath 80 years ago this hour (Aug 8 1945)

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


Video: 'American Experience - Truman (1997) - Part 3' (Aug. 8, 1945, at 41:11)

(Wednesday, August 8, 1945, 10:45 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — Secretary of War Henry Stimson showed President Harry S. Truman aerial photographs of Hiroshima following Monday’s atomic bombing. Continue reading Truman shown aerial photographs of Hiroshima bombing aftermath 80 years ago this hour (Aug 8 1945) →

Million+ witness funeral procession for former President Grant in New York City 140 years ago this hour (Aug 8 1885)

1880s, U.S. Presidents

Video: 'U.S. Grant Funeral'

(Saturday, August 8, 1885, procession began: 8:30 a.m. at City Hall with arrival at Riverside Park and internment at about 4:30 p.m. local time) — More than one million people witnessed the funeral procession of former President Ulysses S. Grant (who had died July 23, 1885) today in New York City. Continue reading Million+ witness funeral procession for former President Grant in New York City 140 years ago this hour (Aug 8 1885) →

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Voting Rights Act, orders immediate enforcement 60 years ago this hour (Aug 6 1965)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Aug. 6, 1965 | LBJ Signs Voting Rights Act'

(Friday, August 6, 1965, 12:05 p.m. EDT; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed today the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting, and announced steps to bring about its quick and vigorous enforcement. Continue reading U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Voting Rights Act, orders immediate enforcement 60 years ago this hour (Aug 6 1965) →

Truman briefed on Hiroshima bombing, issues warning 80 years ago this hour (Aug 6 1945)

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


Video: 'American Experience - Truman (1997) - Part 3' (Aug. 6, 1945, at 40:19)

Video: 'American Experience: Truman' (Aug. 6, 1945, at 2:10:56)
(Monday, August 6, 1945, a few minutes before noon in “Zone Plus Three” time; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry Truman, eating lunch aboard the USS Augusta on his way from when he was Plymouth, England, to Newport News, Virginia, following the Potsdam Conference in Germany, was handed a decoded message today informing him of the successful use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, saying “this is the greatest thing in history.” Continue reading Truman briefed on Hiroshima bombing, issues warning 80 years ago this hour (Aug 6 1945) →

Former President Andrew Johnson buried in Greeneville 150 years ago today (Aug 3 1875)

1870s, U.S. Presidents

(Tuesday, August 3, 1875) — Former U.S. President Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) was buried today in what later became the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Greeneville, Tennessee, with his body wrapped in an American flag and a copy of the U.S. Constitution placed under his head, according to his wishes. Continue reading Former President Andrew Johnson buried in Greeneville 150 years ago today (Aug 3 1875) →

President Harry S. Truman sets sail for U.S. following Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (Aug 2 1945)

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

Video: 'The World At War Episode 24 HD - The Bomb (February – September 1945)' (August 2, 1945, at 34:10)

(Thursday, August 2, 1945, 3:49 p.m. British Double Summer Time; during World War II) — President Harry S. Truman set sail from Plymouth, England, for the U.S. this afternoon aboard the USS Augusta following the 17-day Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in Potsdam, occupied Germany. Continue reading President Harry S. Truman sets sail for U.S. following Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (Aug 2 1945) →

U.S. President Gerald Ford bids nations live up to spirit of Helsinki Accords 50 years ago this hour (Aug 1 1975)

1970s, U.S. Presidents

Video: 'President Ford's Address to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE)'

(Friday, August 1, 1975, 10:03-10:30 a.m. Eastern European Time) — U.S. President Gerald Ford, declaring that the 35-nation Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe held in Helsinki, Finland, will be judged “not by the promises we make but by the promises we keep,” joined leaders of the Soviet Union and 33 other nations today in affirming a broad charter for European security, human rights and East-West contacts.