Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

‘Victory has a hundred fathers…’: JFK dodges Cuba questions at news conference 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'JFK'S 10th PRESS CONFERENCE (APRIL 21, 1961) (VIDEO VERSION)'

(Friday, April 21, 1961, 10:00 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy declined to discuss the recent Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba despite repeated questioning by reporters at a news conference today in Washington, except to declare, “There’s an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan… What matters is only one fact, I am the responsible officer of the government.”
Continue reading ‘Victory has a hundred fathers…’: JFK dodges Cuba questions at news conference 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1961) →

Millions cheer General MacArthur during 19-mile ticker tape parade through New York City 70 year ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 20 1951)

1950s, Korean War, U.S. Presidents


Video: '7,000,000 Cheer Macarthur (1951)'

(Friday, April 20, 1951, 11:05 a.m.-5:30 p.m. EST; during the Korean War) — An estimated 7.5 million people turned out in New York City today to give U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, relieved nine days ago by President Harry S. Truman, the nation’s greatest welcome to a returning hero during a 19-mile parade.
Continue reading Millions cheer General MacArthur during 19-mile ticker tape parade through New York City 70 year ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 20 1951) →

‘Old soldiers never die; they just fade away’: General MacArthur delivers farewell address to U.S. Congress 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 19 1951)

1950s, Korean War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'General Douglas MacArthur Farewell Speech to Congress'

(Thursday, April 19, 1951, 12:31 p.m. EST; during the Korean War) — U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, relieved eight days ago by President Harry S. Truman as commander of United Nations forces battling North Korean and communist Chinese forces on the Korean Peninsula, bid farewell today before a joint meeting of Congress, quoting a line from a ballad: “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”
Continue reading ‘Old soldiers never die; they just fade away’: General MacArthur delivers farewell address to U.S. Congress 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 19 1951) →

Virginia becomes eighth Southern slave state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1861)

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


Video: 'Virginia in the Civil War'

(Wednesday, April 17, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Delegates to the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 voted 88-55 to secede from the Union today in Richmond, becoming the eighth southern state to secede to preserve the enslavement of black people and the first since the Battle of Fort Sumter and President Abraham Lincoln’s call up of militia to retake federal property.
Continue reading Virginia becomes eighth Southern slave state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1861) →

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declares state of insurrection, calls for 75,000 volunteer troops 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1861)

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


Video: 'The Civil War - 1 - Savasin Sebebi (1861)' (Apr. 15, 1861, at 52:54)

(Monday, April 15, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Three days after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declared a state of insurrection today and called on the states to provide 75,000 militiamen to retake federal property and to suppress the rebellion by seven Southern slave states.
Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declares state of insurrection, calls for 75,000 volunteer troops 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1861) →

American Civil War begins as Confederate troops fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1861)

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


Video: 'Fort Sumter: Animated Battle Map'

(Friday, April 12, 1861, 4:30 a.m. local time; during the Battle of Fort Sumter, part of the American Civil War) — The American Civil War, a civil war fought between northern states loyal to the Union and southern states that had seceded to preserve the enslavement of black people, began early today when secessionist forces attacked Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.
Continue reading American Civil War begins as Confederate troops fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1861) →

John Tyler sworn-in as tenth president of the United States 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 6 1841)

1840s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'John Tyler: His Accidency (1841 - 1845)'

(Tuesday, April 6, 1841, noon local time) — U.S. Vice President John Tyler was sworn in today as the 10th President of the United States, two days after the death of President William Henry Harrison, becoming the first U.S. vice president to assume the office of president upon the death of his predecessor.
Continue reading John Tyler sworn-in as tenth president of the United States 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 6 1841) →

MacArthur challenges Truman’s handling of Korean War in letter to GOP lawmaker 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1951)

1950s, Korean War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Korean War - PART 19, Hard fighting, 6.25' (MacArthur letter to Martin at 8:47)

(Thursday, April 5, 1951; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — U.S. House Minority Leader Joseph William Martin, Jr. read the text of a letter today he had received from U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the United Nations forces defending South Korea, dated Mar. 20, 1951, criticizing U.S. President Harry S. Truman administration’s handling of the Korean War.
Continue reading MacArthur challenges Truman’s handling of Korean War in letter to GOP lawmaker 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1951) →

William Henry Harrison becomes first U.S. president to die while in office 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1841)

1840s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Experts Revealed The Real Reason Why William Henry Harrison Died After Less Than A Month In Of'

(Sunday, April 4, 1841, 12:30 a.m. local time) — U.S. President William Henry Harrison, 68, died early today at the White House, becoming the first United States president to die in office.
Continue reading William Henry Harrison becomes first U.S. president to die while in office 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1841) →

President Ronald Reagan shot and seriously injured outside Washington hotel 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1981)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ronald Reagan Shot Raw Tape'

(Monday, March 30, 1981, 2:27 p.m. EST; during the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded by a lone gunman today as he was returning to his limousine after a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Continue reading President Ronald Reagan shot and seriously injured outside Washington hotel 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1981) →