Video: 'Thomas Jefferson - Mini Biography'

(Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4, 1826, 12:50 p.m. local time) — Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States (1801–1809), an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, died this afternoon at his plantation estate Monticello near Charlottesville, Virginia, of toxemia from a kidney infection, uremia from kidney damage, and pneumonia. Continue reading Former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, 83, dies at his Monticello plantation 200 years ago this hour (Jul 4 1826) →

Video: 'America's Bicentennial - July 4, 1976 - ABC Coverage!'

(Sunday, July 4, 1976, U.S. President Gerald Ford spoke at Independence Hall at 11:19-11:37 a.m. EDT) — The United States celebrated the bicentennial of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence today with pageantry and prayer, with games and parades, with picnics and fireworks, with the peal of bells and the chant of protests. Continue reading United States celebrates bicentennial 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (July 4 1976) →

Video: 'Bill Moyers Essay: The Freedom of Information Act'

(Independence Day, Monday, July 4 1966) — President Lyndon B. Johnson today signed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a federal freedom of information law that allows for the full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information and documents controlled by the United States government, which went into effect the following year. Continue reading President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Freedom of Information Act 60 years ago today (July 4 1966) →

Video: 'Liberty Weekend Opening Ceremony' (coverage began at 8:00 p.m. EDT, ceremonies began at 8:30 p.m.; President Reagan spoke at 9:28 p.m. prior to the unveiling and again at 11:04 p.m.; the torch was lit at 11:08 p.m.)

(Thursday, July 3, 1986, evening EDT; during Liberty Weekend) — With the eyes of America on its most cherished symbol of freedom, the city and the nation rededicated the Statue of Liberty in a blaze of light tonight, marking its centennial as a beacon of hope in New York Harbor. Continue reading Nation rekindles Statue of Liberty as beacon of hope 40 years ago this hour (July 3 1986) →

(Wednesday, June 28, 1876, just before the session’s adjournment at 8:20 p.m. local time) — Governor Samuel J. Tilden of New York was unanimously nominated President of the United States on the second ballot today at the 1876 Democratic National Convention meeting at the Merchants Exchange Building in St. Louis. Continue reading Democrats nominate Samuel J. Tilden for President of the United States 150 years ago this hour (June 28 1876) →

Video: 'James Madison - 4th U.S. President & Father of the Constitution| Mini Bio | BIO'

(Tuesday, June 28, 1836, 6:00 a.m. local time) — James Madison, the nation’s fourth president and one of the principal architects of the United States Constitution, died today at his Montpelier plantation in Orange County, Virginia. He was 85. Continue reading Former U.S. President James Madison, 85, dies in Orange, Virginia 190 years ago this hour (Jun 28 1836) →

Video: 'Democratic Convention 1936'

(Saturday, June 27, 1936, 10:00 p.m. EDT) — Under a cloud-veiled moon, in skies suddenly cleared of rain, to a mass of more than 100,000 people gathered in the stadium of the University of Pennsylvania, and by radio to unnumbered millions all over the nation and world, Franklin Delano Roosevelt tonight accepted the nomination of the Democratic party for a second term as President of the United States and, avoiding personalities of any description, defined the issue of this campaign as it appears to him. Continue reading FDR accepts Democratic presidential nomination for a second term 90 years ago this hour (June 27 1936) →

Video: 'Fred M. Vinson Sworn In'

(Monday, June 24, 1946) — Fred M. Vinson, retiring Secretary of the Treasury, was sworn in as thirteenth Chief Justice of the United States today (succeeding the late Harlan F. Stone) at an unusual ceremony on the South Portico of the White House, where President Harry S. Truman said that the traditional respect of Americans for the courts would be enhanced by Vinson’s service on the bench.

Video: '"American Experience" THE KENNEDYS: Part 1, The Father, (1900-1961)' (1946 campaign at 43:00)

(Tuesday, June 18, 1946, polls closed at 8:00 p.m. EDT) — John F. Kennedy, seeking his first public office, won today’s Democratic primary for the 11th Congressional seat in Massachusetts, out polling his nearest rival Mike Neville 19,426 votes to 10,875 votes to face Republican Lester Bowen in the general election.

(Thursday, June 18, 1896, roll call began at 4:36 p.m. local time) — Former Governor William McKinley of Ohio was nominated President of the United States this afternoon at the 1896 Republican National Convention meeting at St. Louis City Hall in St. Louis. Continue reading Republicans nominate William McKinley for President of the United States 130 years ago this hour (Jun 18 1896) →