Category Archives: U.S. Presidents

Truman becomes first president to address NAACP 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 29 1947)

1940s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (June 29, 1947, at 38:11)

(Sunday, June 29, 1947, 4:30 p.m. EDT) — President Harry S. Truman became the first President to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People today, declaring that the nation has “reached the turning point in the long history of its efforts to guarantee freedom and equality to all our citizens” in a speech at the closing session of the civil rights organization’s 38th annual conference at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Continue reading Truman becomes first president to address NAACP 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 29 1947) →

Truman writes about upcoming historic speech to NAACP 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 28 1947)

1940s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (June 28, 1947, at 37:56)

(Saturday, June 28, 1947) — President Harry S. Truman wrote his sister a letter today, mentioning his upcoming speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: “I’ve got to make a speech tomorrow to the Society for the Advancement of Colored People and I wish I didn’t have to make it… Mamma won’t like what I say.” Continue reading Truman writes about upcoming historic speech to NAACP 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 28 1947) →

Former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr indicted on treason, high misdemeanor 210 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 24 1807)

1800s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'United States v. Aaron Burr 1977 Judicial Conference of the United States'

(Wednesday, June 24, 1807) — Former Vice President Aaron Burr was indicted today by a grand jury in Richmond, Virginia, on charges of treason (for assembling an armed force to take New Orleans and separate the Western from the Atlantic states) and high misdemeanor (for sending a military expedition against territories belonging to Spain). Continue reading Former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr indicted on treason, high misdemeanor 210 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 24 1807) →

Congress overrides Truman’s veto of anti-labor Taft-Hartley Act 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1947)

1940s, U.S. Presidents

(Monday, June 23, 1947, 3:17 p.m. EDT) — The Senate by 68 to 25 joined the House today in overriding President Harry S. Truman’s veto of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, better known as the Taft-Hartley Act, designed to limit the power of organized labor (click here to watch “Target Labor And Taft-Hartley” video).

LBJ hosts Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin at Glassboro Summit Conference 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1967)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: '1967 Glassboro Summit'

(Friday, June 23, 1967, 11:22 a.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President Lyndon B. Johnson, Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin and their advisers opened a three-day summit today at Glassboro State College in New Jersey, talking for five-and-a-half hours about the Middle East, Vietnam and arms control. Continue reading LBJ hosts Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin at Glassboro Summit Conference 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 23 1967) →

Donna Rice refuses to say if she had sex with Gary Hart 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 18 1987)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'ABC News 20/20- June 18, 1987 (partial)'

(Thursday, June 18, 1987, 10:00 p.m. EDT) — Model and actress Donna Rice said in an interview broadcast tonight that as a matter of “dignity” she wouldn’t say whether or not she had a sexual relationship with married presidential candidate Gary Hart. Continue reading Donna Rice refuses to say if she had sex with Gary Hart 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 18 1987) →

Thurgood Marshall nominated as first African-American justice on U.S. Supreme Court 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 13 1967)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: '"Thurgood Marshall Nominated to Supreme Court" (Washington DC, 6/13/1967)'

(Tuesday, June 13, 1967, noon EDT) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson today nominated Solicitor-General Thurgood Marshall to become the first African-American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Continue reading Thurgood Marshall nominated as first African-American justice on U.S. Supreme Court 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 13 1967) →

Reagan challenges Gorbachev to ‘tear down this wall!’ in Berlin 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1987)

1980s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President Reagan's Berlin Wall Speech - June 12, 1987'

(Friday, June 12, 1987, 2:20 p.m. CEST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan, during a visit to the divided German city of Berlin, publicly challenged Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev today to “tear down this wall,” referring to the Berlin Wall which had divided West and East Berlin since 1961. Continue reading Reagan challenges Gorbachev to ‘tear down this wall!’ in Berlin 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1987) →