Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

U.S. President Reagan gives three former presidents a personal send-off as America’s emissaries to Sadat funeral 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 8 1981)


Video: 'President Reagan’s Remarks with 3 Former Presidents on Anwar Sadat’s Funeral on October 8, 1981'

(Thursday, October 8, 1981, Reagan spoke at 7:20 p.m. EDT; during the Assassination of Anwar Sadat) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan hosted all three living former presidents — Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter — at the White House tonight, expressing a “heartfelt thanks” to his three living predecessors “for undertaking this sad mission” to attend the funeral of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Continue reading U.S. President Reagan gives three former presidents a personal send-off as America’s emissaries to Sadat funeral 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 8 1981)

Former U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon announces he’ll run for governor in California, bars 1964 presidential bid 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 27 1961)


Video: 'Nixon Speaks On His Future (1961)'

(Wednesday, September 27, 1961, scheduled for 7:00 PST) — Former Vice President Richard M. Nixon, who had narrowly lost the U.S. presidential race in 1960, announced tonight in Los Angeles that he would not run for president in 1964, and that he would run for Governor of California in 1962, challenging incumbent Democrat Edmund G. “Pat” Brown. Continue reading Former U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon announces he’ll run for governor in California, bars 1964 presidential bid 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 27 1961)

Sandra Day O’Connor sworn in as first female justice on U.S. Supreme Court 40 years ago this hour (Sep 25 1981)


Video: 'Sandra Day O’Connor: her milestones and legacy'

(Friday, September 25, 1981, a few minutes past 2:00 p.m. EDT)Sandra Day O’Connor took her seat today as the 102nd Justice and the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court.

President Ronald Reagan, who fulfilled a campaign promise to name a woman to the Court by nominating the 51-year-old Arizona judge, attended the brief ceremony in the courtroom.

The ceremony, formally known as an investiture, lasted barely 10 minutes. The courtroom was filled well beyond its 400-seat capacity with Judge O’Connor’s family and friends and with Government officials, including a number of Senators. The Senate confirmed Judge O’Connor on Tuesday by a vote of 99 to 0.

Potter Stewart, whose retirement from the Court in July paved the way for today’s event, watched from a seat at the side of the courtroom.

The Chief Justice administered the oath of office, which is identical with that taken by all Federal officials.

U.S. President John F. Kennedy says Western powers will defend Berlin by ‘whatever means’ in address to UN General Assembly 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 25 1961)


Video: 'TNC:20 (excerpt) JFK on Nuclear Weapons'

(Monday, September 25, 1961, 11:30 a.m. EDT; during the Cold War) — Six weeks after construction of the Berlin Wall began, U.S. President John F. Kennedy told the United Nations today that’ the United States and its allies have decided to defend West Berlin by “whatever means are forced upon them.” Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy says Western powers will defend Berlin by ‘whatever means’ in address to UN General Assembly 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 25 1961)

U.S. President William McKinley’s assassin found guilty 120 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 24 1901)


Video: 'The Man Who Murdered McKinley: Leon Czolgosz'

(Tuesday, September 24, 1901, 4:20 p.m. EST, during the Assassination of William McKinley) — Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist who shot U.S. President William McKinley twice in Buffalo, New York, on Sept. 6, 1901, was found guilty of McKinley’s murder (he died Sept. 14, 1901) this afternoon following a trial and deliberation that lasted a total of 8 hours and 26 minutes. Continue reading U.S. President William McKinley’s assassin found guilty 120 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 24 1901)

Funeral services held for President James A. Garfield in U.S. Capitol rotunda 140 years ago this hour (Sep 23 1881)

(Friday, September 23, 1881, 3:00 p.m. local time; during the Assassination of James A. Garfield) — Services were held today at the U.S. Capitol in Washington for President James A. Garfield who died four days ago in Elberon, New Jersey, from complications of gunshot wounds received July 2, 1881. Continue reading Funeral services held for President James A. Garfield in U.S. Capitol rotunda 140 years ago this hour (Sep 23 1881)

Chester A. Arthur sworn-in as 21st U.S. President following assassination of James A. Garfield 140 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 20 1881)


Video: ‘New York, New York – Chester A. Arthur Inauguration and Death Location (2020)’

(Tuesday, September 20, 1881, 2:15 a.m. local time; during the Assassination of James A. Garfield and the inauguration of Chester A. Arthur) — U.S. Vice President Chester A. Arthur, 51, took the oath of office (as administered by Judge John R. Brady of the New York Supreme Court) early this morning as the 21st President of the United States at Arthur’s private apartment at 123 Lexington Avenue in New York City. Continue reading Chester A. Arthur sworn-in as 21st U.S. President following assassination of James A. Garfield 140 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 20 1881)

U.S. President James A. Garfield succumbs to wounds inflicted by an assassin 140 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 19 1881)


Video: 'The tragic death of President James Garfield'

(Monday, September 19, 1901, 10:35 p.m. local time; during the Assassination of James A. Garfield)James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States, died tonight in Elberon, New Jersey, of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm, following sepsis and bronchial pneumonia, all complications from gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin on July 2, 1881. Continue reading U.S. President James A. Garfield succumbs to wounds inflicted by an assassin 140 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 19 1881)

State funeral held for President William McKinley in U.S. Capitol rotunda 120 years ago this hour (Sep 17 1901)


Video: 'President McKinleys Funeral, 1901, Part 1' (Sept. 17, 1901, at 0:06-6:28)

(Tuesday, September 17, 1901, funeral procession from White House to Capitol began at 9:10 a.m. EST; during the Assassination of William McKinley) — A state funeral was held today in Washington for President William McKinley who died three days before in Buffalo, New York, from complications of gunshot wounds received Sept. 6, 1901. Continue reading State funeral held for President William McKinley in U.S. Capitol rotunda 120 years ago this hour (Sep 17 1901)

Theodore Roosevelt becomes youngest president in American history following assassination of William McKinley 120 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 14 1901)


Video: 'Presidents in Our Backyard - William McKinley & Teddy Roosevelt'

(Saturday, September 14, 1901, 3:25 p.m. EST; during the Assassination of William McKinley and the First inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt) — U.S. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt, 42, took the oath of office today as the 26th President of the United States at the home of his friend Ansley Wilcox (641 Delaware Ave.) in Buffalo, New York, some 13 hours after the death of President William McKinley, who was shot by an assassin eight days earlier. Continue reading Theodore Roosevelt becomes youngest president in American history following assassination of William McKinley 120 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 14 1901)