Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Stimson briefs Truman on ‘most terrible weapon ever known’ 80 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945)

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

Video: 'The World At War Episode 24 HD - The Bomb (February – September 1945)' (Apr. 25, 1945, at 9:50)

(Wednesday, April 25, 1945, 12 noon EWT; during World War II) — U.S. Secretary of War Henry Stimson briefed President Harry Truman today about the possibility of an atomic weapon, outlined the history and status of the program and predicted that “within four months we shall in all probability have completed the most terrible weapon ever known in human history” (click here for a clip of Apr. 24-25, 1945, on “American Experience: Truman” at 1:40:57). Continue reading Stimson briefs Truman on ‘most terrible weapon ever known’ 80 years ago this hour (Apr 25 1945) →

Lincoln funeral train arrives in New York City 160 years ago this hour (Apr 24 1865)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 24, 1865 at 22:25-23:09)

(Monday, April 24, 1865, 10:50 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — The remains U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and his deceased son, William Wallace Lincoln, stopped in New York City today on a 1,654 mile journey to Springfield, Illinois, for final burial. Continue reading Lincoln funeral train arrives in New York City 160 years ago this hour (Apr 24 1865) →

President Ford declares Vietnam War is ‘finished as far as America is concerned’ 50 years ago this hour (Apr 23 1975)

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


Video: 'Address at a Tulane University Convocation April 23, 1975'

(Wednesday, April 23, 1975, 8:07-8:33 p.m. CDT; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Speaking to an audience of students at Tulane University in New Orleans, U.S. President Gerald Ford announced that “Today, America can regain the sense of pride that existed before Vietnam. But it cannot be achieved by re-fighting a war that is finished as far as America is concerned.” Continue reading President Ford declares Vietnam War is ‘finished as far as America is concerned’ 50 years ago this hour (Apr 23 1975) →

U.S. President Truman confronts Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov on Poland 80 years ago this hour (Apr 23 1945)

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

Video: 'The World At War Episode 24 HD - The Bomb (February – September 1945)' (Apr. 22 1945, at 6:47)

(Monday, April 23, 1945, 5:30 EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry Truman met today at the White House with Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov and demanded that Russia bide by the Yalta agreement to hold free elections in Poland (click here for a clip of this day on “American Experience: Truman” at 1:38:58).

Lincoln Funeral Train reaches Philadelphia 160 years ago this hour (Apr 22 1865)

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


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Apr. 22, 1865 at 22:13-22:24)

(Saturday, April 22, 1865, 4:50 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — The caskets of assassinated U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and his deceased son, William Wallace Lincoln, stopped in Philadelphia, today as part of a 1,654 mile journey to Springfield, Illinois, for burial.

Lincoln’s body departs Washington 160 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1865)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln's casket departs at 21:16)

(Friday, April 21, 1865, 8:00 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — The remains U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and his deceased son, William Wallace Lincoln, left Washington, D.C., today for the 1,654 mile journey to Springfield, Illinois, for burial. Continue reading Lincoln’s body departs Washington 160 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1865) →

White House funeral for President Abraham Lincoln held 160 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1865)

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


Video: 'Funeral March for Abraham Lincoln J.G. Barnard 1865'

(Wednesday, April 19, 1865, 12:10 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — A funeral was held today at the White House for President Abraham Lincoln, assassinated five days earlier; his coffin was then transported in a procession down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol Rotunda, where a ceremonial burial service was held.

Elie Wiesel urges President Reagan to cancel visit to Nazi cemetery 40 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1985)

1980s, The Holocaust, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'N Special Report: Reagan Presents Congressional Gold Medal to Elie Wiesel'

(Friday, April 19, 1985, 11:30-11:51 a.m. EST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan listened intently today as Elie Wiesel, chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, implored him to cancel a visit to a German cemetery where Nazi war dead are buried. Continue reading Elie Wiesel urges President Reagan to cancel visit to Nazi cemetery 40 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1985) →

Truman vows to uphold Roosevelt’s legacy in first address to Congress 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945)

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


Video: 'Truman's First Address, 1945'

(Monday, April 16, 1945, entered House Chamber at 1:02 p.m. EWT; during World War II) –In his first address to Congress as president, Harry S. Truman pledged Monday to carry forward the vision and resolve of his late predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, urging national unity and promising an unrelenting fight against tyranny. Continue reading Truman vows to uphold Roosevelt’s legacy in first address to Congress 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945) →

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt buried at Hyde Park 80 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1945)

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


Video: 'FDR: A Presidency Revealed: Part 19' (Apr. 15, 1945, at 2:35)

(Sunday, April 15, 1945, 11:00 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — In the hedge-enclosed garden of his ancestral Hyde Park estate in New York, high above the eternal flow of the Hudson, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was laid at rest this morning in the presence of President Harry S. Truman and ranking officials of this country and representatives of other nations. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt buried at Hyde Park 80 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1945) →