Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Lincoln and Confederate VP Stephens meet for peace talks, but Southern autonomy stalls progress 160 years ago today (Feb 3 1865)

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


Video: 'History Bites : Hampton Roads Conference'

(Friday, February 3, 1865, morning local time; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens held a shipboard peace conference on the River Queen, near Union-controlled Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, today; the talks deadlocked over the issue of Southern autonomy. Continue reading Lincoln and Confederate VP Stephens meet for peace talks, but Southern autonomy stalls progress 160 years ago today (Feb 3 1865) →

FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)

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


Video: '1945 Newsreel: The Yalta Conference begins' (Feb. 3, 1945, at 0:59)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 12:10 p.m. local time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt landed today at Saki airfield on the west coast of the Crimea, about 20 minutes ahead of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The two men reviewed an honor guard and then continued via jeep to Livadia Palace near Yalta, USSR, where they arrived about six hours later for a week-long conference to plan the postwar world. Continue reading FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945) →

Clinton, with bow to GOP, reaffirms his themes of ’92 in State of Union address 30 years ago this hour (Jan 24 1995)

1990s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The 1995 State of the Union (Address to a Joint Session of the Congress)'

(Tuesday, January 24, 1995, approximately 9:00 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Bill Clinton tonight sought to build a rationale for the second half of his first term, at once defending his record and embracing many ideas backed by the new Republican Congressional majority, but amending them to suit the brand of centrist Democrats who elected him. Continue reading Clinton, with bow to GOP, reaffirms his themes of ’92 in State of Union address 30 years ago this hour (Jan 24 1995) →

President Reagan, VP George H.W. Bush hold public inaugural ceremonies 40 years ago this hour (Jan 21 1985)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '1985 Inauguration (January 1985)' (17 clips)

(Monday, January 21, 1985, 11:48 a.m. EST) — President Ronald Reagan launched his second term today, saying the nation faced “a moment of bard decisions” that demanded further limits on the cost and size and power of the federal
government. Continue reading President Reagan, VP George H.W. Bush hold public inaugural ceremonies 40 years ago this hour (Jan 21 1985) →

FDR sworn in for unprecedented fourth term as U.S. President, Truman as 34th VP 80 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1945)

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


Video: 'Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1945 Presidential Inauguration'

(Saturday, January 20 1945, a few minutes after noon EWT) — Franklin Delano Roosevelt, nearing his sixty-third birthday, stood today at the White House bareheaded and without an outside coat, despite raw, wintry weather, to become the nation’s first fourth-term President. Continue reading FDR sworn in for unprecedented fourth term as U.S. President, Truman as 34th VP 80 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1945) →

LBJ sworn in for a full term as U.S. President, Humphrey as 38th VP 60 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1965)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Lyndon B. Johnson Inauguration (January 20th, 1965) ABC Coverage'

(Wednesday, January 20, 1965, 12:03 p.m. EST) — Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas began his first full term as President today with a pledge that the nation aspired “to nothing that belongs to others” but sought only “man’s dominion over tyranny and misery.” Continue reading LBJ sworn in for a full term as U.S. President, Humphrey as 38th VP 60 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1965) →

President Reagan, VP George H.W. Bush sworn-in for second terms 40 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1985)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ronald Reagan 1985 Inauguration Part 1'

(Sunday, January 20, 1985, 11:57 a.m. EST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan took the constitutional oath today to begin his second term as the 40th President of the United States. Continue reading President Reagan, VP George H.W. Bush sworn-in for second terms 40 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1985) →

President George W. Bush, VP Cheney sworn-in for second terms 20 years ago this hour (Jan 20 2005)

2000s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Second inauguration of George W. Bush'

(Thursday, January 20, 1985, 11:56 a.m. EST) — George Walker Bush was sworn in today for a second time as the 43rd president of the United States, and in an Inaugural Address striking for its idealism told Americans that spreading liberty around the world was “the calling of our time” and that the nation’s “vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one.” Continue reading President George W. Bush, VP Cheney sworn-in for second terms 20 years ago this hour (Jan 20 2005) →