Video: 'Us Celebrates Japanese Surrender (1945)'
(Tuesday, August 14, 1945, 7:00 p.m. EWT; during World War II) — “I have received this afternoon a message from the Japanese government of the unconditional surrender of Japan,” U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced from the White House tonight, sparking a national celebration from San Francisco to New York’s Times Square. Continue reading President Truman announces Japan’s surrender 80 years ago this hour (Aug 14 1945)
Video: 'Depression - Social Security Act 1935'
(Wednesday, August 14, 1935, 3:30 p.m. EDT, during the Great Depression) — The Social Security Act, providing a broad program of unemployment insurance and old-age pensions, and counted upon to benefit some 30 million persons, became law today when it was signed today by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the presence of those chiefly responsible for putting it through Congress. Continue reading FDR signs Social Security bill, providing pensions to aged, jobless 90 years ago today (Aug 14 1935)
Video: 'American Experience - Truman (1997) - Part 3' (Aug. 10, 1945, at 43:03/44:26)
(Friday, August 10, 1945; during World War II) — Having dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (Aug. 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (Aug. 9, 1945) and with Japan conveying it’s willingness to surrender (provided the status of Emperor Hirohito remained unchanged), U.S. President Harry S. Truman took the authority to use the atomic bomb back from the military today and placed it once again in his own hands. Continue reading Truman halts use of atomic bomb after Japan conveys willingness to surrender 80 years ago today (Aug 10 1945)
Video: 'Scenes and Incidents, Russo-Japanese Peace Conference, Portsmouth, N.H.'
(Wednesday, August 9, 1905) — Japanese and Russian delegations convened the Portsmouth Peace Conference today at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, (by invitation of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt) to negotiate an end to the Russo-Japanese War. Continue reading Portsmouth Peace Conference begins in Kittery, Maine 120 years ago today (Aug 9 1905)
(Wednesday, August 8, 1945, 12:30 p.m. EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman today signed the United Nations Charter, the foundational treaty of the intergovernmental organization known as the United Nations.
Video: 'American Experience - Truman (1997) - Part 3' (Aug. 8, 1945, at 41:11)
(Wednesday, August 8, 1945, 10:45 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — Secretary of War Henry Stimson showed President Harry S. Truman aerial photographs of Hiroshima following Monday’s atomic bombing. Continue reading Truman shown aerial photographs of Hiroshima bombing aftermath 80 years ago this hour (Aug 8 1945)
Video: 'U.S. Grant Funeral'
(Saturday, August 8, 1885, procession began: 8:30 a.m. at City Hall with arrival at Riverside Park and internment at about 4:30 p.m. local time) — More than one million people witnessed the funeral procession of former President Ulysses S. Grant (who had died July 23, 1885) today in New York City. Continue reading Million+ witness funeral procession for former President Grant in New York City 140 years ago this hour (Aug 8 1885)
Video: 'Aug. 6, 1965 | LBJ Signs Voting Rights Act'
(Friday, August 6, 1965, 12:05 p.m. EDT; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed today the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting, and announced steps to bring about its quick and vigorous enforcement. Continue reading U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Voting Rights Act, orders immediate enforcement 60 years ago this hour (Aug 6 1965)
Video: 'American Experience - Truman (1997) - Part 3' (Aug. 6, 1945, at 40:19)
Video: 'American Experience: Truman' (Aug. 6, 1945, at 2:10:56)
(Monday, August 6, 1945, a few minutes before noon in “Zone Plus Three” time; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry Truman, eating lunch aboard the USS Augusta on his way from when he was Plymouth, England, to Newport News, Virginia, following the Potsdam Conference in Germany, was handed a decoded message today informing him of the successful use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, saying “this is the greatest thing in history.” Continue reading Truman briefed on Hiroshima bombing, issues warning 80 years ago this hour (Aug 6 1945)
(Tuesday, August 3, 1875) — Former U.S. President Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) was buried today in what later became the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Greeneville, Tennessee, with his body wrapped in an American flag and a copy of the U.S. Constitution placed under his head, according to his wishes. Continue reading Former President Andrew Johnson buried in Greeneville 150 years ago today (Aug 3 1875)
