Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

U.S. military seeks another 206,000 troops in Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 28 1968)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Tet [6/11]' (Wheeler-Westmoreland proposal at 31:33)

(Wednesday, February 28, 1968, 8:35-11:15 a.m. EST; during the Tet Offensive, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. General Earle Wheeler, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, just back from Vietnam, told President Lyndon Johnson today at the White House that General William Westmoreland, commanding U.S. forces in Vietnam, will need an additional 206,000 soldiers “for a proposed ceiling of 731,756.” Continue reading U.S. military seeks another 206,000 troops in Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 28 1968)

President Andrew Johnson impeached 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 24 1868)


Videos: 'Andrew Johnson battle the Radical Republicans'/Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

(Monday, February 24, 1868, 4:58 p.m. local time) — The U.S. House of Representatives voted 126 to 47 today in favor of a resolution to impeach President Andrew Johnson for high crimes and misdemeanors, three days following his attempt to dismiss of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Continue reading President Andrew Johnson impeached 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 24 1868)

Former U.S. President John Quincy Adams dies 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1848)


Video: 'John Quincy Adams - Mini Biography'

(Wednesday, February 23, 1848, 7:20 p.m. local time)John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of the United States (1825-1829), the 8th United States Secretary of State (1817-1825) and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (since 1831), died today in the Speaker’s Room inside the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., two days after suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage in the House chamber. Continue reading Former U.S. President John Quincy Adams dies 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1848)

Joseph Kennedy departs for new post in England 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1938)


Video: 'American Experience The Kennedys 1' (Kennedy departs at 26:36)

(Wednesday, February 23, 1938) — Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., the new United States Ambassador to Great Britain, sailed for his post today from New York Harbor aboard the 24,189-ton luxury liner SS Manhattan. Continue reading Joseph Kennedy departs for new post in England 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1938)

George Wallace to run as third-party presidential candidate 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1968)


Video: 'George Wallace discusses running on a third party ticket 1968'

(Thursday, February 8, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968); during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Former Democratic Governor George Wallace of Alabama, a staunch racial segregationist, announced today in Washington that he would run for the presidency as a candidate of the American Independent Party and “run to win.” Continue reading George Wallace to run as third-party presidential candidate 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1968)

Former VP Nixon opens second bid for presidency 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1968)


Video: 'A Time to Begin - Nixon in New Hampshire 1968'

(Friday, February 2, 1968, afternoon EST; during the Republican Party presidential primaries, 1968) — Former Vice President Richard Nixon, displaying the confidence of a fighter on a familiar battleground, opened his campaign in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary today with a news conference in Manchester. Continue reading Former VP Nixon opens second bid for presidency 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1968)

LBJ declares Tet Offensive ‘a complete failure’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1968)


Video: 'Our World Winter 1968 Part 1' (Feb. 2, 1968, at 8:57)

(Friday, February 2, 1968, 12:05 p.m. EST; during the Tet Offensive, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson said today that the Vietcong suffered “a complete failure” militarily throughout South Vietnam this week and he expressed confidence that as the facts became known the enemy would gain nothing psychologically either. Continue reading LBJ declares Tet Offensive ‘a complete failure’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1968)

Truman seeks to desegregate Armed Forces 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1948)


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (Feb. 2, 1948, at 39:49)

(Monday, February 2, 1948) — President Harry S. Truman sent a special message to Congress today on civil rights, announcing the he had “instructed the secretary of defense to take steps to have the remaining instances of discrimination in the armed services eliminated as rapidly as possible.” Continue reading Truman seeks to desegregate Armed Forces 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1948)

President Bush urges resolve on economy, Iraq 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 28 2008)


Video: '2008 State Of The Union - President George W. Bush'

(Monday, January 28, 2008, 9:09 p.m. EST) — U.S. President George W. Bush, in his seventh and final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, urged the nation tonight to preserve against gnawing fears of recession and stay patient with the long, grinding war in Iraq. Continue reading President Bush urges resolve on economy, Iraq 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 28 2008)

Hillary Clinton blames ‘vast right-wing conspiracy’ for Lewinsky scandal 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1998)


Video: 'Flashback: January 27'

(Tuesday, January 27, 1998, at 7:05 a.m. EST; during the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal) — Delivering a blistering White House counterattack, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton charged today that the Whitewater prosecutor’s sex-scandal investigation of her husband was part of a “vast right-wing conspiracy” dedicated to destroying his presidency (click here to watch the full interview). Continue reading Hillary Clinton blames ‘vast right-wing conspiracy’ for Lewinsky scandal 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1998)