Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

U.S. President Lincoln confers with Union General McClellan at Harrison’s Landing 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 8 1862)

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


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.3of9.Forever.Free.' (July 8, 1862, at 23:26)

(Tuesday, July 8, 1862, Lincoln arrives at Harrison’s landing at 6:00 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — Six days after Army of the Potomac retreated to the safety of Harrison’s Landing on the James River in Virginia, following the Seven Days Battles, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln visited Maj. Gen. George McClellan tonight aboard USS Ariel to assess the Union strategy. Continue reading U.S. President Lincoln confers with Union General McClellan at Harrison’s Landing 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 8 1862) →

U.S. President Calvin Coolidge born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 4 1872)

1870s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Calvin Coolidge: The Silent President'

(Thursday, July 4, 1872, Independence Day) — Calvin Coolidge, the the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929, was born John Calvin Coolidge Jr. today in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, the only U.S. president to be born on Independence Day. Continue reading U.S. President Calvin Coolidge born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 4 1872) →

Franklin D. Roosevelt accepts Democratic presidential nomination, promising ‘new deal for the American people’ 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 2 1932)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '1932 Democratic National Convention'

(Saturday, July 2, 1932, 5:51 p.m. CDT) — Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York broke tradition late today and established the precedent of formally accepting the nomination for President of the United States by delegates to the 1932 Democratic National Convention at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, pledging a “new deal for the American people” who were suffering at the height of the Great Depression. Continue reading Franklin D. Roosevelt accepts Democratic presidential nomination, promising ‘new deal for the American people’ 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 2 1932) →

Democrats nominate New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson for President of the United States 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 2 1912)

1910s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Biography with Mike Wallace - Woodrow Wilson (1962)' (Wilson nominated at 3:47)

(Tuesday, July 2, 1912, 3:30 p.m. EST) — Delegates to the 1912 Democratic National Convention, meeting at Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore, nominated Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey for President of the United States today on the 46th ballot. Continue reading Democrats nominate New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson for President of the United States 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 2 1912) →

U.S. Army Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower takes command of U.S. forces in Europe 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 25 1942)

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


Video: 'News Briefs (1942)'

(Thursday, June 25, 1942; during World War II) — U.S. Army Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower, a 51-year-old veteran of armored warfare, assumed command today of the newly created European Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA), a Theater of Operations responsible for directing United States Army operations throughout the European theatre of World War II, headquartered in London. Continue reading U.S. Army Major General Dwight D. Eisenhower takes command of U.S. forces in Europe 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 25 1942) →

President Richard Nixon signs Title IX barring discrimination on the basis of sex for education programs 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Title IX: Let 'em Play'

(Friday, June 23, 1972, Nixon’s statement on signing the Education Amendments of 1972 delivered at 2:48-2:57 p.m. EDT) — U.S. President Richard Nixon today signed Title IX barring discrimination on the basis of sex for “any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” Continue reading President Richard Nixon signs Title IX barring discrimination on the basis of sex for education programs 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1972) →

President Nixon approves plan to use CIA to stop FBI’s Watergate investigation, sealing fate of his presidency 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'WATERGATE AFFAIR BBC DOKUMENTATION 1994' (June 23, 1972, at 1:17:38)

(Friday, June 23, 1972, 10:04-11:39 a.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — U.S. President Richard Nixon and and his chief of staff, H. R. Haldeman, had a meeting today in the Oval Office during which the President discussed and approved a plan to use the CIA to obstruct the FBI’s Watergate investigation. Continue reading President Nixon approves plan to use CIA to stop FBI’s Watergate investigation, sealing fate of his presidency 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1972) →

Incumbent President William Howard Taft defeats former President Theodore Roosevelt at raucous Republican National Convention 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 22 1912)

1910s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Lessons from the 1912 Republican Convention: Birth of the Modern Primary | Retro Report'

(Saturday, June 22, 1912, 9:28 p.m. CST) — Amid scenes of turbulence and disorder, which at times bordered upon a riot, U.S. President William H. Taft was nominated for a second term of office tonight by delegates at the 1912 Republican National Convention at Chicago Coliseum in Chicago, Illinois, defeating former President Theodore Roosevelt. Continue reading Incumbent President William Howard Taft defeats former President Theodore Roosevelt at raucous Republican National Convention 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 22 1912) →

John Hinckley Jr. found ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’ in Reagan assassination attempt 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 21 1982)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Who is John Hinckley?'

(Monday, June 21, 1982, verdict read at 7:50 p.m. EDT; during the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan) — John Hinckley Jr. tonight was found not guilty by reason of insanity on all 13 charges of shooting U.S. President Ronald Reagan and three other men on Mar. 30, 1981. Continue reading John Hinckley Jr. found ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’ in Reagan assassination attempt 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 21 1982) →

Nixon, Haldeman discuss Watergate break-in during secret recording that would later be partially erased 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 20 1972)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Watergate


Video: 'Watergate: The 18 ½ Minute Gap and Haldeman's Notes'

(Tuesday, June 20, 1972, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EDT; during the Watergate scandal) — On their first day back at the White House after the June 17, 1972, break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex and the arrest of five Nixon re-election operatives, President Richard Nixon and Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman met today in the Oval Office. Continue reading Nixon, Haldeman discuss Watergate break-in during secret recording that would later be partially erased 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 20 1972) →