Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sends personal plea for peace to Japanese Emperor Hirohito 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 6 1941)

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


Video: 'Pearl Harbor - 2 Hours That Changed The World ABC News' (Dec. 6, 1941 at 35:28)

(Saturday, December 6, 1941, 9:00 p.m. EST, less than 16 hours before Japan’s sneak attack on Pearl Harbor) — With negotiations at a standstill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a personal appeal to Japanese Emperor Hirohito tonight in a last attempt at preserving the peace in the Pacific. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sends personal plea for peace to Japanese Emperor Hirohito 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 6 1941) →

U.S. President James A. Garfield born in Moreland Hills, Ohio 190 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 19 1831)

1830s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The tragic death of President James Garfield'

(Saturday, November 19, 1831) — James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the United States (1881), was born James Abram Garfield today into poverty in a log cabin in Orange Township, now Moreland Hills, Ohio. Continue reading U.S. President James A. Garfield born in Moreland Hills, Ohio 190 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 19 1831) →

FDR confers with Japanese diplomats in attempt to avert war 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 17 1941)

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


Video: 'War Comes to America, 8/8: America Attacked' (Nov. 17, 1941, at 3:02)

(Monday, November 17, 1941, 11:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m. EST; 20 days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) — Conferences that may decide whether there will be peace or war in the Far East opened today when U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt received Saburo Kurusu, special Japanese envoy, for an hour at the White House. Continue reading FDR confers with Japanese diplomats in attempt to avert war 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 17 1941) →

Sam Rayburn, longest serving Speaker in U.S. House history, dies in Bonham, Texas 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 16 1961)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Mr Sam, Mr Speaker'

(Thursday, November 16, 1961, 6:20 a.m. CST) — Sam Rayburn, an American politician who holds the record for the longest tenure as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, serving for over 17 years (among his three separate stints), died today in Bonham, Texas, of pancreatic cancer at the age of 79. Continue reading Sam Rayburn, longest serving Speaker in U.S. House history, dies in Bonham, Texas 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 16 1961) →

President Nixon announces 45,000 more U.S. troops will withdraw from Vietnam before Feb. 1, leaving 139,000 there as peace aid 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 12 1971)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'CBS Evening News - 1971-11-12'

(Friday, November 12, 1971, 4:02-4:09 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon announced today that he would withdraw 45,000 more American soldiers from South Vietnam by Feb. 1, 1972, retaining a force of 139,000 men to strengthen his hand in seeking a negotiated settlement of the war. Continue reading President Nixon announces 45,000 more U.S. troops will withdraw from Vietnam before Feb. 1, leaving 139,000 there as peace aid 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 12 1971) →

Trent Affair nearly sparks war between U.S. and Great Britain during American Civil War 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1861)

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


Video: '8th November 1861: The Trent Affair nearly causes a war between Britain and the United States'

(Friday, November 8, 1861; during the Trent Affair, part of the American Civil War) — The USS San Jacinto, commanded by Union Captain Charles Wilkes, intercepted the British mail packet RMS Trent today in Old Bahama Channel between Cuba and the Bahamas and removed, as contraband of war, two Confederate envoys: James Murray Mason and John Slidell. Continue reading Trent Affair nearly sparks war between U.S. and Great Britain during American Civil War 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1861) →

Five U.S. presidents gather for Ronald Reagan Presidential Library dedication 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1991)

1990s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Reagan Library dedication (1991)'

(Monday, November 4, 1991, President Bush spoke at 12:15 p.m. PST) — In a convergence of modern American ideologies and politics, five Presidents of the United States gathered today on the same platform for the first time in history. Continue reading Five U.S. presidents gather for Ronald Reagan Presidential Library dedication 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1991) →

President Lincoln names George B. McClellan general-in-chief of all Union armies 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1861)

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


Video: 'Abraham Lincoln Biography PBS Lincoln The Making of a President 1860 1862 1 4' (Lincoln replaces Scott with McClellan at 36:04)

(Friday, November 1, 1861; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln appointed George B. McClellan as general-in-chief of all the Union armies today, replacing the aging General Winfield Scott. Continue reading President Lincoln names George B. McClellan general-in-chief of all Union armies 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1861) →

U.S. President McKinley’s assassin executed by electric chair 120 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 29 1901)

1900s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Execution of Leon Czolgosz, assassin of McKinley, reenactment for Edison Film Company 1901'

(Monday, October 29, 1901, 7:14 a.m. local time; during the Assassination of William McKinley) — Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist who assassinated U.S. President William McKinley in Buffalo, New York, 45 days ago, was executed this morning by three jolts, each of 1800 volts, at Auburn Prison in Auburn, New York. Continue reading U.S. President McKinley’s assassin executed by electric chair 120 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 29 1901) →

U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt declares ‘the shooting has started’ 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 27 1941)

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


Video: 'Shooting Has Started, Says Roosevelt! Aka Roosevelt "Speech" The Shooting Has Started (1941)'

(Monday, October 27, 1941, 10;00 p.m. EST; during World War II, 41 days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor)— Ten days after a German U-boat torpedoed an American destroyer, the USS Kearney, while on patrol in the North Atlantic near U.S.-occupied Iceland, killing 11 American sailors, President Franklin D. Roosevelt told the nation and the world tonight “the shooting has started.” Continue reading U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt declares ‘the shooting has started’ 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 27 1941) →