Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

President Nixon names Powell, Rehnquist to Supreme Court 40 years ago this hour (1971)

1970s, U.S. Presidents


Video: Nixon decides with Attorney General John Mitchell to appoint Rehnquist over Sen. Howard Baker (Oct. 21, 1971, 9:33 a.m. ET)

(Thursday, October 21, 1971, 7:30 p.m. ET) — President Richard M. Nixon nominated Lewis F. Powell Jr., 64, a former president of the American Bar Association, and William H. Rehnquist, 46, an Assistant Attorney General, to the Supreme Court tonight in an address to the nation.

If confirmed, Powell would replace Hugo Black (appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937, Black had retired Sept. 17, 1971, and then died eight days later) and Rehnquist would replace John Marshall Harlan II (appointed by President Eisenhower in 1955, Harlan had retired Sept. 23, 1971).

Kennedy advisers arrive in Vietnam 50 years ago today (1961)

1960s, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War

(Wednesday, October 18, 1961) — Two key advisers to U.S. President John F. Kennedy, General Maxwell Taylor and Walt Rostow, arrived today in Saigon, South Vietnam.

Their visit coincided with a serious flood. They would recommend a big increase in military aid, including U.S. combat troops disguised as flood fighters.

President Ngo Dinh Diem would say no to the troops. He needed U.S. support, but he wanted to keep control, and he wanted to keep the foreigners out.

Theodore Roosevelt arrives at Canton for President McKinley’s funeral 110 years ago this hour

1900s, U.S. Presidents

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL6vPCQd5eA

(Wednesday, September 18, 1901, 11:58 a.m.) — The state funeral train bearing the remains of President William McKinley, who died four days ago from complications of gunshot wounds arrived in Canton, Ohio today (for burial tomorrow) with the new president, Theodore Roosevelt, paying his respects. Continue reading Theodore Roosevelt arrives at Canton for President McKinley’s funeral 110 years ago this hour →

French general arrives to confer with Truman on First Indochina War 60 years ago today

1950s, First Indochina War, U.S. Presidents

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mStq3NaipQ
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny and Vietnam (in French)

(Friday, September 14, 1951) — U.S. President Harry S Truman told Gen. Jean de Lattre de Tassigny today that he regarded the French battle against communism in Indochina as being the same as the fighting in Korea, “the same fight for liberty.”

De Lattre, who put new fight into French forces battling communists in the First Indochina War, arrived in Washington today to confer with U.S. officials.

Video: General Jean De Lattre De Tassigny arrives in Washington (Sept. 14, 1951)

President Roosevelt orders U.S. Navy to ‘shoot on sight’ 70 years ago this hour

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

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUWJX-j1xws
FDR Fireside Chat 18: On The Greer Incident

(Thursday, September 11, 1941, 10 p.m. EDT) — Responding to last week’s Greer Incident, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced tonight that he had ordered the navy to “shoot first” when Axis submarines, surface raiders or aircraft are encountered in areas which the (still officially neutral) U.S. considers vital to its defense (click here to watch a video clip of the address).

Sara Roosevelt, FDR’s mother, dies 70 years ago this hour

1940s, U.S. Presidents


(click here to watch the full program, with Sara Roosevelt's death @ 3:11:05)

(Sunday, September 7, 1941, 12:15 p.m. EDT)— Sara Roosevelt, the 86-year-old mother of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, died today at her home in Hyde Park, New York, following an acute circulatory collapse late last evening.

Eleanor Roosevelt writes about husband’s illness 90 years ago today

1920s, U.S. Presidents


(click here to watch the full program, with August 14, 1921 @ 53:59)

(Sunday, August 14, 1921)— Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt, writes about her husband’s illness in a letter. Franklin had developed acute symptoms of poliomyelitis four days before while visiting his summer home on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada.

Ellsberg break-in plan approved 40 years ago today

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Watergate. Part 3 of 30

(Wednesday, August 11, 1971) — A plan by E. Howard Hunt, one of the Nixon White House “Plumbers” (a secret team of operatives charged with fixing “leaks” to leading newspapers), to burglarize the office of psychiatrist Lewis Fielding to steal his files on Daniel Ellsberg, who had leaked the Pentagon Papers, was approved by Chief Domestic Advisor John Ehrlichman.

Reagan fires 11,000 striking air traffic controllers

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Aug. 5, 1981: Air Traffic Controllers Strike

(Wednesday, August 5, 1981) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan today fired more than 11,000 air traffic controllers who ignored his order to return to work. Nearly 13,000 controllers walked off the job Aug. 3 after talks with the Federal Aviation Administration collapsed.