Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

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) →

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)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


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)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


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)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


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)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


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)

1900s, U.S. Presidents


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) →