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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
