Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Lincoln calls for reconciliation and black suffrage as Confederate sympathizer plots his assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Lincolns Final Speech - April 11, 1865 - Audio'

(Tuesday, April 11, 1865, approximately 8:00 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — Two days after Lee’s army surrendered to Grant at Appomattox, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his last public speech from a White House window to a crowd on the lawn, saying, “We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart.” Continue reading Lincoln calls for reconciliation and black suffrage as Confederate sympathizer plots his assassination 160 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1865) →

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs education bill at his old school 60 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1965)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Signing of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 4/11/65.'

(Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, 4:20 p.m. CST) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed today the $1.3 billion aid-to-education bill at the old country school in Johnson City, Texas, where he had his first lessons.

President Roosevelt drives former mistress to Dowdell’s Knob 80 years ago today (Apr 11 1945)

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


Video: 'American Experience FDR Parts 3 and 4' (Apr. 11, 1945, at 2:10:48)

(Wednesday, April 11, 1945, lunchtime EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt drove his former mistress Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, who had arrived at Warm Springs, Georgia, on Monday (Apr. 9, 1945), to Dowdell’s Knob, overlooking a lovely valley, and talked about the future of the world and what he was going to do after the war had ended.

Washington celebrates Lee’s surrender, but Lincoln too weary to deliver formal speech 160 years ago this hour (Apr 10 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 10, 1865, at 1:03:10)
Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 10, 1865, at 6:42)

(Monday, April 10, 1865, noon p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — In Washington, fireworks filled the sky tonight in celebration of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox yesterday. A great crowd gathered around the White House called for President Abraham Lincoln, but he was too weary to make a formal speech.

Lincoln poses for portrait 160 years ago today (Apr 10 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 10, 1865, at 1:03:31)

(Monday, April 10, 1865; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln walked over to the Alexander Gardner studio today at the corner of 7th and D Streets in Washington to sit for another portrait. Continue reading Lincoln poses for portrait 160 years ago today (Apr 10 1865) →

LBJ attends debut game at Houston’s Astrodome 60 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1965)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Apr. 9, 1965 | Houston Astrodome Opens'

(Friday, April 9, 1965, 7:30 p.m. CST) — The Harris County Domed Stadium, later known as the Astrodome, opened tonight in Houston with a historic exhibition baseball game between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees, marking the first Major League Baseball game ever played indoors. Continue reading LBJ attends debut game at Houston’s Astrodome 60 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1965) →

President Franklin Roosevelt signs work relief bill 80 years ago this hour (Apr 8 1935)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'History Brief: The Works Progress Administration (WPA)'

(Monday, April 8, 1935, 4:00 p.m. EST; during the Great Depression) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed the Emergency Relief Appropriations Act, which provided money for programs such as the Works Progress Administration. Continue reading President Franklin Roosevelt signs work relief bill 80 years ago this hour (Apr 8 1935) →

Eleanor Roosevelt writes to FDR, ‘I am so glad you are gaining’ 80 years ago today (Apr 8 1945)

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


Video: 'American Experience FDR Parts 3 and 4' (Apr. 8, 1945, at 2:10:20)

(Sunday, April 8, 1945; during World War II) — First lady Eleanor Roosevelt, in Hyde Park, New York, today wrote a letter to her husband, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was recuperating from exhaustion in Warm Springs, Georgia: “I am so glad you are gaining. You sounded cheerful for the first time last night, and I hope you weigh 170 pounds when you return. Devotedly, E.R.”

Abraham, Mary Lincoln drive together past a country cemetery at Petersburg 160 years ago today (Apr 8 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 8, 1865, at 45:57)

(Saturday, April 8, 1865; during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and First Lady Mary Lincoln took a drive together today past a country cemetery on the outskirts of Petersburg, Virginia.

President Lincoln visits vanquished Confederate capital of Richmond 160 years ago this hour (Apr 4 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Lincoln | Now He Belongs to the Ages' (Apr. 4, 1865, at 7:07)

(Tuesday, April 4, 1865, around 3:00 p.m. local time; during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by his son Tad, arrived in Richmond today and was cheered by crowds of Union soldiers and former slaves as he toured the former Confederate capital after traveling up the James River from City Point, Virginia. Continue reading President Lincoln visits vanquished Confederate capital of Richmond 160 years ago this hour (Apr 4 1865) →