Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

LBJ declares day of mourning for RFK 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1968)


Video: 'June 6, 1968 - President Lyndon B. Johnson's Statement on the Death of Senator Robert F. Kennedy'

(Thursday, June 6, 1968, 11:55 a.m. EDT) — President Lyndon Johnson, responding to the death of Robert F. Kennedy early this morning, declared Sunday, June 9, 1968, to be a day of national mourning during a statement today in the Fish Room of the White House.

Kennedy, the younger brother of slain President John F. Kennedy, was shot and critically wounded June 5, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles just after he made his victory speech California’s Democratic presidential primary.

Despite extensive neurosurgery to remove the bullet and bone fragments from his brain, Kennedy was pronounced dead nearly 26 hours after the shooting.

Robert F. Kennedy dies of gunshot wounds 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1968)


Video: 'Robert F. Kennedy death announcement'

(Thursday, June 6, 1968, 1:44 a.m. PDT; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968) — Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York, the younger brother of slain President John F. Kennedy, died today at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Continue reading Robert F. Kennedy dies of gunshot wounds 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 6 1968)

LBJ seeks ‘end to violence’ after RFK shooting 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1968)


Video: 'The President: June 1968. MP897.' (June 4-5, 1968, at 0:23)

(Wednesday, June 5, 1968, 10:02 p.m. EDT) — In an emotional and at times even angry statement on television tonight, President Lyndon Johnson responded to this morning’s shooting of Robert F. Kennedy with plea for Americans to end the violence in their midst once and for all, to tolerate neither hatred nor the preaching of violence and to resolve to live under the law. Continue reading LBJ seeks ‘end to violence’ after RFK shooting 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1968)

Robert F. Kennedy shot and gravely wounded 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1968)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRy2R10tgVI&list=PLEAD75B4826C377E5

Video: 'RFK Assassination - As It Happened' (3 videos)

(Wednesday, June 5, 1968, at approximately 12:15 a.m. PDT; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968) — Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York, the younger brother of slain President John F. Kennedy, was shot and critically wounded this morning at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles just after he claimed victory in California’s Democratic presidential primary. Continue reading Robert F. Kennedy shot and gravely wounded 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1968)

RFK wins California, South Dakota primaries 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1968)


Video: 'American Experience The Kennedys 2' (June 4, 1968, at 1:20:19)

(Tuesday, June 4, 1968, polls closed in California at 8:00 p.m. PDT; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968) — Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York rebounded tonight from his stunning loss in Oregon on May 28, 1968, winning both the California and South Dakota Democratic primaries. Continue reading RFK wins California, South Dakota primaries 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1968)

Former U.S. Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks dies 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1918)

(Tuesday, June 4, 1918, at 8:55 p.m. CDT)Charles W. Fairbanks, the 26th Vice President of the United States from 1905 to 1909, during the administration of President Theodore Roosevelt, and the 1916 Republican vice presidential nominee (on a ticket with Charles Evans Hughes), died tonight of nephritis in his home in Indianapolis, Indiana. Fairbanks was 66.

Kennedy, McCarthy hold first TV debate 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 1 1968)


Video: 'Eugene McCarthy Robert Kennedy Debate 1968 ElectionWallDotOrg'

(Saturday, June 1, 1968, 6:30-7:30 p.m. PDT; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968) — Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene J. McCarthy met tonight in the first face-to-face confrontation of their campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, disputing one key point relating to the Vietnam negotiations. Continue reading Kennedy, McCarthy hold first TV debate 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 1 1968)

Former U.S. President James Buchanan dies 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (June 1 1868)


Video: 'American Presidents Series: James Buchanan'

(Monday, June 1, 1868, 8:30 a.m. local time)James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States (1857–1861) and the 17th United States Secretary of State (1845-1849), died today from respiratory failure at the age of 77 at his home at Wheatland outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Continue reading Former U.S. President James Buchanan dies 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (June 1 1868)

Reagan recants ‘evil empire’ description 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 31 1988)


Video: 'Cold War 22of24 Star Wars' (May 31, 1988, at 44:31)

(Tuesday, May 31, 1988, 11:10 a.m. Moscow Daylight Time; during the Moscow Summit (1988), part of the Cold War) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan, standing within the fortress walls of the Kremlin with a smiling Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev at his side, said today that he no longer sees the Soviet Union as “the evil empire.” Continue reading Reagan recants ‘evil empire’ description 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 31 1988)

Unknowns of World War II and Korea are enshrined 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1958)

(Decoration Day, Friday, May 30, 1958, 3:19 p.m. EDT) — Two unidentified American servicemen, one of World War II and one of the Korean war, were interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns today at Arlington National Cemetery, with President Dwight Eisenhower placing a Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award, on each casket.