Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

President Obama and Mitt Romney spar over fixing the economy in first debate 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 2012)


Video: 'Obama vs. Romney: The first 2012 presidential debate'

(Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. MDT; during the 2012 United States presidential election campaign) — Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney tonight accused U.S. President Barack Obama of failing to lead the country out of the deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, using the first presidential debate of the 2012 general election campaign to invigorate his candidacy by presenting himself as an equal who can solve problems Obama has been unable to. Continue reading President Obama and Mitt Romney spar over fixing the economy in first debate 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 2012)

Richard Nixon salvages GOP vice presidential candidacy by delivering ‘Checkers speech’ 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 23 1952)


Video: 'Checkers Speech (full version)'

(Tuesday, September 23, 1952, 9:30 p.m. EDT, during the 1952 United States presidential election campaign) — U.S. Senator Richard Nixon, 39, salvaged his vice presidential nomination on the Republican ticket tonight by appearing on television from Los Angeles to refute allegations of improper campaign fundraising in what became known as the “Checkers speech.Continue reading Richard Nixon salvages GOP vice presidential candidacy by delivering ‘Checkers speech’ 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 23 1952)

President Richard Nixon vows to take revenge on his enemies during White House meeting 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1972)


Video: 'YouTube Watergate Part 12 of 30' (Sept. 15, 1972 at 3:02)

(Friday, September 15, 1972, 5:27-6:17 p.m. EDT, during the Watergate scandal) — U.S. President Richard Nixon, Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman, and White House staff attorney John Dean met today to discuss the cover-up of the White House’s role in the Watergate break-in and discuss plans to take revenge on the President’s enemies. Continue reading President Richard Nixon vows to take revenge on his enemies during White House meeting 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1972)

President Barack Obama accepts Democratic nomination for second term in Charlotte 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 6 2012)


Video: 'Election 2012 | DNC Convention Coverage and Obama's DNC Speech 9/6 | The New York Times' (coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT, Biden speaks at 9:31 p.m. or 2:31:00 into the video and Obama speaks at 10:27 p.m. or 3:27:00 into the video)

(Thursday, September 6, 2012, Obama started speaking at 10:27 p.m. EDT; during the 2012 Democratic National Convention) — President Barack Obama of Illinois accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for a second term tonight at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, making a forceful argument that he had rescued the economy from disaster and ushered in a recovery that would be imperiled by a return to Republican stewardship. Continue reading President Barack Obama accepts Democratic nomination for second term in Charlotte 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 6 2012)

Mitt Romney accepts GOP presidential nomination, pledges to deliver country from economic travails 10 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 30 2012)


Video: 'Election 2012 | RNC Convention Coverage 8/30 | The New York Times' (coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT, Romney speaks at 10:23 p.m. or 3:23:00 into the video)

(Thursday, August 30, 1992, 10:23 p.m. EDT; during the 2012 Republican National Convention) — Former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, 65, accepted the Republican presidential nomination tonight by making a direct appeal to Americans who were captivated by President Barack Obama’s hopeful promises of change, pledging that he could deliver what the president did not and move the country from its worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Continue reading Mitt Romney accepts GOP presidential nomination, pledges to deliver country from economic travails 10 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 30 2012)

President Richard Nixon accepts Republican nomination for second term in Miami 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 23 1972)


Video: 'Nixon's 1972 RNC Acceptance Speech'

(Wednesday, August 23, 1972, 10:27 p.m. EDT; during the 1972 Republican National Convention, the Watergate Scandal, and the Vietnam War) — President Richard Nixon of New York accepted the Republican party’s nomination for a second term tonight at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida, summoning the nation, and particularly the young, the old and disaffected Democrats, “to join our new majority.” Continue reading President Richard Nixon accepts Republican nomination for second term in Miami 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 23 1972)

President George H.W. Bush accepts Republican nomination for second term in Houston 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1992)


Video: 'MT3264, MT3265, and MT3266 George Bush Accepts the GOP Presidential Nomination - 02 August 1992'

(Thursday, August 20, 1992 evening CDT; during the 1992 Republican National Convention) — President George H.W. Bush of Texas accepted the Republican party’s nomination for a second term tonight at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, promising new, across-the-board tax cuts next year and pledging to control government spending. Continue reading President George H.W. Bush accepts Republican nomination for second term in Houston 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1992)

Progressives nominate Theodore Roosevelt for third term as President of the United States 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 7 1912)


Video: 'Lessons from the 1912 Republican Convention: Birth of the Modern Primary | Retro Report'

(Wednesday, August 7, 1912, nearly 7:00 p.m. CST) — Delegates to the 1912 Progressive National Convention, meeting tonight at Chicago Coliseum in Chicago, nominated former President Theodore Roosevelt of New York for President of the United States by acclamation. Continue reading Progressives nominate Theodore Roosevelt for third term as President of the United States 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 7 1912)

General George Washington creates Order of the Purple Heart to honor Americans who fought in Revolutionary War 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 7 1782)


Video: 'Almanac: Purple Heart'

(Wednesday, August 7, 1782, during the American Revolutionary War) — The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established today by General George Washington — then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army — by order from his Newburgh, New York, headquarters. Continue reading General George Washington creates Order of the Purple Heart to honor Americans who fought in Revolutionary War 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 7 1782)

Sargent Shriver chosen as George McGovern’s new running mate on Democratic presidential ticket 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 5 1972)


Video: 'SYND 6-8-72 MCGOVERN NOMINATES SHRIVER'

(Saturday, August 5, 1972, early evening EDT) — Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern, a U.S. Senator from South Dakota, chose Sargent Shriver as his new vice presidential running mate today after Senator Edmund S. Muskie of Maine had rejected his invitation to join the ticket. Continue reading Sargent Shriver chosen as George McGovern’s new running mate on Democratic presidential ticket 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 5 1972)