Video: 'January 9, 1961 - President-Elect John F. Kennedy addresses the Massachusetts State Legislature'

(Monday, January 9, 1961; nearly nine weeks after the 1960 United States presidential election) — 11 days before his inauguration, President-elect John F. Kennedy delivered his “City Upon a Hill” speech, telling Massachusetts legislators today in Boston that he hoped his administration would be judged finally on its qualities of courage, judgment, integrity and dedication. Continue reading President-elect Kennedy pledges rule of integrity in ‘City Upon a Hill’ speech 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 9 1961) →

Video: 'Mississippi in the Civil War'

(Wednesday, January 9, 1861; nine weeks after the 1860 United States presidential election) — 64 days after Abraham Lincoln’s victory in the presidential election of 1860 on a platform which opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories, Mississippi became the second state to secede today when a state convention meeting in Jackson voted 84-15 to leave the Union.
Continue reading Mississippi becomes second Southern state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 9 1861) →

Video: 'Ken Burns’ Civil War, ep1 part 2-3' (Anderson moves garrison to Fort Sumter at 28:54)

(Wednesday, December 26, 1860; seven weeks after the 1860 United States presidential election) — Six days after South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union, the Federal commander of the Charleston defenses, Maj. Robert Anderson, moved his tiny garrison of fewer than 90 men today from Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island to Fort Sumter, situated in the middle of Charleston Harbor.
Continue reading Federal troops take refuge in Fort Sumter after South Carolina secedes 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 26 1860) →

Video: '20th December 1860: South Carolina secedes from the United States of America'

(Thursday, December 20, 1860, 1:15 p.m. local time; six weeks after the 1860 United States presidential election) — 44 days after Abraham Lincoln’s victory in the presidential election of 1860 on a platform opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union today as all 169 delegates to a special convention in Charleston voted in favor of separation.
Continue reading South Carolina becomes first Southern state to secede from Union over slavery 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1860) →

Video: '2000 Election December 12 Gore v. Bush Supreme Court Decision' (5 videos)

(Tuesday, December 12, 2000, about 10 p.m. EST; during the United States presidential election, 2000) — Five weeks after one of the most unsettled presidential elections in American history, Texas Governor George W. Bush, a Republican, became president-elect tonight as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 it was reversing the ruling of the Florida Supreme Court allowing hand recount of votes in Florida.

The ruling, in effect, ensured Bush would win the presidency over incumbent Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee, a Democrat. Continue reading Supreme Court votes 5-4 to give presidential election to George W. Bush 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 2000) →

Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1820'

(Wednesday, December 6, 1820, during the United States presidential election, 1820) — James Monroe, a Democratic-Republican from Virginia, was re-elected as the fifth President of the United States today without a major opponent. Continue reading U.S. President Monroe re-elected without major opposition 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 6 1820) →

Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1840'

(Wednesday, December 2, 1840, during the United States presidential election, 1840) — Former U.S. Senator William H. Harrison of Ohio, a Whig, was elected as the ninth President of the United States today, defeating incumbent President Martin Van Buren of New York, a Democrat.
Continue reading William Henry Harrison defeats incumbent President Martin Van Buren in U.S. election 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1840 ) →