Video: 'Top 5 Vice Presidents in American History' (Clinton at 7:25)
(Monday, April 20, 1812, at about 8:00 a.m. local time) — U.S. Vice President George Clinton, 72, died today in Washington, D.C., from a heart attack, becoming the first vice president to die while in office. Continue reading George Clinton becomes first U.S. vice president to die while in office 210 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 20 1812)
Video: 'Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer Case Brief Summary | Law Case Explained'
(Tuesday, April 8, 1952, 10:30 p.m. EST; during the 1952 steel strike) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman tonight nationalized the American steel industry hours to avert a strike of their 600,000 workers. Continue reading President Truman nationalizes U.S. steel industry to avert strike 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 8 1952)
Video: 'Teapot Dome: The Watergate Before Watergate'
(Thursday, April 7, 1922) — The Teapot Dome scandal, a bribery scandal involving the administration of U.S. President Warren G. Harding, had its beginnings today as Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall signed a secret deal to lease U.S. Navy petroleum reserves in Wyoming and California to his friends, oilmen Harry F. Sinclair and Edward L. Doheny, in exchange for cash gifts. Continue reading U.S. Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall signs secret deal that results in Teapot Dome scandal 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 7 1922)
Video: 'Presidential Veto Power Explained'
(Thursday, April 5, 1792) — U.S. President George Washington exercised his power to veto legislation for the first time in the nation’s history today when he refused to sign a bill designed to apportion members of the House. Continue reading George Washington casts first presidential veto in U.S. history 230 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1792)
Video: 'WATERGATE AFFAIR BBC DOKUMENTATION 1994' ('Operation Gemstone' approved at 34:42)
(Thursday, March 30, 1972; during the Watergate scandal) — Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell, having assumed his new duties as head of the Committee to Re-elect the President on Mar. 1, 1972, allegedly approved “Operation Gemstone,” a proposed series of illegal activities to support the re-election of President Richard Nixon, including electronic surveillance (i.e. bugging telephones), during a meeting today in Key Biscayne, Florida. Continue reading Nixon re-election team approves illegal surveillance of political enemies 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1972)
Video: 'PBS - American Experience - Truman (1997) 5of5' (Mar. 29, 1952, at 44:57)
(Saturday, March 29, 1952, 10:30 p.m. EST; during the 1952 Democratic Party presidential primaries) — President Harry S. Truman, president of the United States since the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt on Apr. 12, 1945, dramatically announced tonight that he would not be a candidate for re-election and would not accept the nomination if he were drafted by the Democratic convention. Continue reading U.S. President Harry S. Truman announces whether he’ll seek a third term 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1952)
Video: 'John C. Calhoun'
(Monday, March 18, 1782) — John C. Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States who served under presidents John Q. Adams (1825-1829) and Andrew Jackson (1829-1832) while adamantly defending slavery and protecting the interests of the white South, was born John Caldwell Calhoun today in Abbeville District, South Carolina. Continue reading U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun born 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1782)
Video: 'Television & the Presidency Part 8' (Feb. 26, 1972, at 3:40)
(Saturday, February 26, 1972, morning EST; during the 1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries) — Two Saturdays before the March 7, 1972, first-in-the-nation presidential primary in New Hampshire, U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie, the favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972, delivered a speech today in front of the offices of the Manchester Union Leader, calling its publisher, William Loeb, a liar and lambasting him for impugning the character of Muskie’s wife, Jane. Continue reading Democratic presidential favorite Edmund Muskie appears to break down while attacking newspaper publisher 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 26 1972)
Video: 'George Washington: America’s First President & the Birth of a Nation | Full Documentary | Biography'
(Tuesday, February 22, 1732) — George Washington, an American soldier, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797, was born today at Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Continue reading U.S. President George Washington born at Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia 290 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 22 1732)
Video: 'History: Feb 1972 President Nixon to China (4/6) 1972/2/21' (Nixon meets with Mao at 6:29)
(Monday, February 21, 1972, 2:50-3:55 p.m. China Standard Time; during the 1972 visit by Richard Nixon to China and the Cold War) — Three hours and 20 minutes after he arrived in Beijing, U.S. President Richard M. Nixon’s week-long summit conference in China quickly reached a high point today with a surprise meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong, the enshrined leader of the Communist rulers of China. Continue reading Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong hosts U.S. President Richard Nixon in Beijing 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 21 1972)
