Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond sends secret memo recommending ex-Beatle John Lennon be deported 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 4 1972)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Inside The FBI's Files On John Lennon'

(Friday, February 4, 1972) — U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond sent a secret memo today to William Timmons (in his capacity as an aide to President Richard Nixon) and U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell, with an attached file from the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, urging that British musician John Lennon (then living in New York City) be deported from the United States as an undesirable alien due to Lennon’s political views and activism. Continue reading U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond sends secret memo recommending ex-Beatle John Lennon be deported 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 4 1972) →

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt born in Hyde Park, New York 140 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 30 1882)

1880s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '"FDR" Documentary (ABC, 1982)'

(Monday, January 30, 1882) — Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945, was born Franklin Delano Roosevelt today at Springwood, the family’s estate in the Hudson Valley town of Hyde Park, New York. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt born in Hyde Park, New York 140 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 30 1882) →

President George W. Bush targets ‘axis of evil’ in State of the Union address 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 29 2002)

2000s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President Bush Axis of Evil Speech'

(Tuesday, January 29, 2002, approximately 9:00 p.m. EST; during the War on terror and the War in Afghanistan) — In his first State of the Union address, President George W. Bush told Americans tonight that “our war against terror is only beginning” and sent new warnings to terrorists around the world and to three nations — Iran, Iraq and North Korea — states which he said constitute “an axis of evil.” Continue reading President George W. Bush targets ‘axis of evil’ in State of the Union address 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 29 2002) →

Ray Conniff singer urges President Nixon to ‘stop the killing’ during White House performance 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 28 1972)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: ‘Nixon Protest Featuring the Ray Conniff Singers | This is the President’

(Friday, January 28, 1972, 10:50 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — A young woman in a singing group caused an embarrassed moment at a formal White House dinner tonight when she waved a placard and called to President Richard Nixon to stop the bombing in Vietnam. Continue reading Ray Conniff singer urges President Nixon to ‘stop the killing’ during White House performance 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 28 1972) →

G. Gordon Liddy proposes a series of criminal acts to disrupt political opposition to President Richard Nixon’s re-election 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'WATERGATE AFFAIR BBC DOKUMENTATION 1994' (Operation Gemstone at 29:16)

(Thursday, January 27, 1972, 11:00 a.m. EST; during the Watergate Scandal) — G. Gordon Liddy, Finance Counsel for the Committee for the Re-Election of the President (CRP, but often mocked by the acronym CREEP), presented Operation Gemstone, a $1 million campaign intelligence plan that involved a series of clandestine or illegal acts against political opponents of President Richard Nixon’s re-election. Continue reading G. Gordon Liddy proposes a series of criminal acts to disrupt political opposition to President Richard Nixon’s re-election 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1972) →

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton acknowledges ‘causing pain in my marriage’ 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 26 1992)

1990s, Television 1990s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Hillary Clinton's first 60 Minutes interview'

(Sunday, January 26, 1992, 10:34 p.m. EST; during the 1992 Democratic Party presidential primaries) — In a bold gamble to shield his presidential candidacy from allegations of marital infidelity, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton asked the American people tonight to set aside questions about what he called “wrongdoing” in his marriage and not allow the news media to turn the 1992 U.S. presidential campaign into “a game of ‘gotcha.'” Continue reading Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton acknowledges ‘causing pain in my marriage’ 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 26 1992) →

Long-shot candidate George McGovern places surprising second in first ever Iowa Caucuses 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 24 1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Iowa Caucus History: George McGovern’s Early Momentum in 1972'

(Monday, January 24, 1972, caucuses scheduled to convene at 8:00 p.m. CST; during the 1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries) — The Iowa Caucuses, which would mark the opening of delegate selection in U.S. presidential election campaigns, was conducted for the first time tonight by the Democratic Party (Republicans would hold their first Iowa caucuses in 1976). Continue reading Long-shot candidate George McGovern places surprising second in first ever Iowa Caucuses 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 24 1972) →

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially approves project to make first atomic weapons 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 19 1942)

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


Video: 'The Birth of the Manhattan Project - WW2 Special'

(Monday, January 19, 1942; during World War II) — Responding to a Nov. 27, 1941, recommendation by Vannevar Bush that “an atomic bomb WAS feasible,” U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, spurred on by the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, replied today with a brief handwritten note, “V. B. OK — returned — I think you had best keep this in your own safe FDR.” Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially approves project to make first atomic weapons 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 19 1942) →

Former U.S. President John Tyler, 71, dies in Richmond, Virginia 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 18 1862)

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


Video: '#10 John Tyler'

(Saturday, January 18, 1862, 12:15 a.m. local time) — John Tyler, the 10th president of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845, after briefly holding office as the 10th vice president in 1841, died early today in Richmond, Virginia, most likely due to a stroke, at age 71. Continue reading Former U.S. President John Tyler, 71, dies in Richmond, Virginia 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 18 1862) →

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill becomes first head of state to cross Atlantic Ocean by plane 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1942)

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


Video: 'Mr Churchill Comes Home (1942)'

(Saturday, January 17, 1942, shortly before 10:00 a.m. British Summer Time; during World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill became the first head of state to cross the Atlantic Ocean by plane when he landed this morning in Plymouth, England, after an eighteen-hour flight from Bermuda following the Arcadia Conference with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Continue reading British Prime Minister Winston Churchill becomes first head of state to cross Atlantic Ocean by plane 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1942) →