Latest Episodes
Reflections of History is going on Hiatus
April 10, 2023
- 00:20
Reflections of History is going on Hiatus. We will be back soon.
April 7th: Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed To Supreme Court
April 7, 2023
- 05:59
On April 7, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson is confirmed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
April 6th: RFK Reflects On American Violence
April 6, 2023
- 05:20
On April 6, 1968, Robert Kennedy reflects on American violence.
About The Show
C13Originals and Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author Jon Meacham, co-creators of the Webby Award-winning Best Podcast Series It Was Said and the acclaimed podcast Hope,Through History, join together again on a daily series that guides listeners through critical moments in our history. Every Monday through Friday, Meacham travels back to impactful events that occurred on that date in history—the birth of a visionary filmmaker, the debut of an iconic athlete, the discovery of a lifesaving cure, a triumphant legal victory. You’ll learn how that event shaped politics, art, culture, sports and science, and why it’s still relevant today.
More Episodes
Reflections of History is going on Hiatus
April 10, 2023
- 00:20
Reflections of History is going on Hiatus. We will be back soon.
April 7th: Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed To Supreme Court
April 7, 2023
- 05:59
On April 7, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson is confirmed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
April 6th: RFK Reflects On American Violence
April 6, 2023
- 05:20
On April 6, 1968, Robert Kennedy reflects on American violence.
April 5th: FDR Creates Civilian Conservation Corps
April 6, 2023
- 04:55
On April 5, 1933, FDR creates the Civilian Conservation Corps.
April 4th: RFK Eulogizes MLK Jr.
April 4, 2023
- 05:07
On April 4, 1968, Robert Kennedy eulogizes Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 3rd: Truman Signs Marshall Plan Into Law
April 3, 2023
- 06:04
On April 3, 1948, President Truman signs the Marshall Plan into law.
March 31st: LBJ Withdraws From Presidential Race
March 31, 2023
- 05:43
On March 31, 1968, Lyndon Johnson withdraws from the presidential race.
March 30th: President Reagan Is Shot
March 30, 2023
- 04:01
On March 30, 1981, President Reagan is shot.
March 29th: Lincoln And Fort Sumter
March 29, 2023
- 03:18
On March 29, 1861, Lincoln moves toward provisioning Fort Sumter.
March 28th: Dr. King Leads Memphis March
March 28, 2023
- 04:37
On March 28, 1968, Dr. King leads a march in Memphis.
March 27th: Andrew Johnson Vetoes Civil Rights Act
March 27, 2023
- 06:07
On March 27, 1866, Andrew Johnson vetoes the 1866 Civil Rights Act.
March 24th: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dies
March 24, 2023
- 04:31
On March 24, 1882, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow dies.
March 23rd: Patrick Henry's 'Give Me Liberty' Address
March 23, 2023
- 05:27
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivers his ‘Give Me Liberty’ address.
March 22nd: RFK Announces Revised Publication
March 22, 2023
- 05:38
On March 22, 1968, Robert Kennedy announces the publication of a revised “To Seek a Newer World."
March 21st: The 'Cornerstone Speech'
March 21, 2023
- 06:15
On March 21, 1861, Alexander Stephens delivers the ‘Cornerstone Speech’ about the Confederacy.
March 20th: Republican Party Is Founded
March 20, 2023
- 04:57
On March 20, 1854, the Republican Party is founded in Ripon, Wisconsin.
March 17th: JFK's St. Patrick's Day Speech
March 17, 2023
- 04:59
On March 17, 1954, Senator John F. Kennedy delivers St. Patrick’s Day speech in New York.
March 16th: James Madison Is Born
March 16, 2023
- 04:38
On March 16, 1751, James Madison is born.
March 15th: LBJ Calls For Voting Rights
March 15, 2023
- 06:19
On March 15, 1965, Lyndon Johnson calls for voting rights after Selma.
March 14th: Fannie Lou Hamer Dies
March 14, 2023
- 04:51
On March 14, 1977, Fannie Lou Hamer dies in Mississippi.
March 13th: LBJ Meets With George Wallace
March 13, 2023
- 04:28
On March 13, 1965, LBJ meets with Alabama’s George Wallace.
March 10th: Lincoln Promotes U.S. Grant
March 10, 2023
- 04:17
On March 10, 1864, Lincoln elevates U.S. Grant to Union command.
March 9th: Murrow Takes On McCarthy
March 9, 2023
- 06:40
On March 9, 1954, Edward R. Murrow takes on Senator Joseph McCarthy.
March 8th: Reagan's 'Evil Empire' Speech
March 8, 2023
- 05:22
On March 8, 1983, Ronald Reagan describes the Soviet Union as an ‘Evil Empire.’
March 7th: Bloody Sunday
March 7, 2023
- 04:50
On March 7, 1965, Alabama officials beat demonstrators at the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
March 6th: Dred Scott Decision Announced
March 6, 2023
- 05:34
On March 6, 1857, the Dred Scott decision is announced.
March 3rd: The 1913 Women's Suffrage Parade
March 3, 2023
- 05:29
On March 3, 1913, the Women’s Suffrage march takes place in Washington.
March 2nd: Czar Nicholas II Abdicates Russian Throne
March 2, 2023
- 03:49
On March 2, 1917, Czar Nicholas II abdicates the Russian throne.
March 1st: Ralph Ellison Is Born
March 1, 2023
- 05:02
On March 1, 1914, Ralph Ellison is born.
February 28th: Lincoln's Cooper Union Address (Part 2)
February 28, 2023
- 05:35
On February 28, 1860, Lincoln at Cooper Union (Part 2).
February 27th: Lincoln's Cooper Union Address
February 27, 2023
- 05:24
On February 27, 1860, Abraham Lincoln speaks at Cooper Union.
February 24th: Putin Invades Ukraine
February 24, 2023
- 05:46
On February 24, 2022, Putin invades Ukraine.
February 23rd: W.E.B. Du Bois Is Born
February 23, 2023
- 04:01
On February 23, 1868, W.E.B. DuBois is born.
February 22nd: George Washington Is Born
February 22, 2023
- 04:38
On February 22, 1732, George Washington is born.
February 21st: Malcolm X Is Assassinated
February 21, 2023
- 05:45
On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X is assassinated in Harlem.
February 20th: Prohibition’s Repeal Passes Congress
February 20, 2023
- 05:06
On February 20, 1933, Prohibition’s repeal passes the Congress.
February 17th: LBJ Loses Ground In Gallup Polling
February 17, 2023
- 04:25
On February 17, 1968, Lyndon Johnson loses ground in Gallup polling.
February 16th: Lincoln Speaks In Buffalo, New York
February 16, 2023
- 06:03
On February 16, 1861, Abraham Lincoln speaks in Buffalo, New York.
February 15th: FDR Is Nearly Assassinated
February 15, 2023
- 04:41
On February 15, 1933, FDR is nearly assassinated in Miami.
February 14th: Tragedy Strikes Stoneman Douglas High School
February 14, 2023
- 05:11
On February 14, 2018, tragedy strikes Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
February 13th: Feast Day Of Absalom Jones
February 13, 2023
- 04:40
On February 13, the Episcopal Church commemorates the Feast of Absalom Jones.
February 10th: Rev. Henry Highland Garnet's Historic Sermon
February 10, 2023
- 05:52
On February 10, 1865, Rev. Henry Highland Garnet delivers a sermon in the U.S. House of Representatives.
February 9th: McCarthy Launches New Red Scare
February 9, 2023
- 06:32
On February 9, 1950, Joe McCarthy launches a new Red Scare.
February 8th: The Orangeburg Massacre
February 8, 2023
- 04:55
On February 8, 1968, the Orangeburg, S.C., massacre takes place.
February 7th: Full Trade Embargo Is Announced
February 7, 2023
- 04:34
On February 7, 1962, the full Cuban trade embargo is announced.
February 6th: Reagan Reports On State Of The Union
February 6, 2023
- 06:10
On February 6, 1985, Ronald Reagan reports on the State of the Union.
February 3rd: George H.W. Bush Calls For Day Of Prayer
February 3, 2023
- 06:00
On February 3, 1991, George H.W. Bush calls for a Day of Prayer amid the Gulf War.
February 2nd: Queen Victoria's Funeral
February 2, 2023
- 04:23
On February 2, 1901, Queen Victoria’s funeral takes place at St. George’s Chapel.
February 1st: Greensboro Sit-ins Begin
February 1, 2023
- 03:52
On February 1, 1960, the Greensboro, N.C., sit-ins begin.
January 31st: Congress Approves Amendment Abolishing Slavery
January 31, 2023
- 05:01
On January 31, 1865, Congress approves the abolition of slavery in the United States.
January 30th: FDR Is Born
January 30, 2023
- 06:10
On January 30, 1882, Franklin D. Roosevelt is born at Hyde Park.
January 27th: Mahalia Jackson Dies
January 27, 2023
- 04:35
On January 27, 1972, Mahalia Jackson dies.
January 26th: 54th Massachusetts Regiment Is Authorized
January 26, 2023
- 04:21
On January 26, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Regiment is authorized.
January 25th: The Allies Prevail In Battle Of The Bulge
January 25, 2023
- 05:03
On January 25, 1945, the Allies prevail in the Battle of the Bulge.
January 24th: Winston Churchill Dies
January 24, 2023
- 06:05
On January 24, 1965, Winston Churchill dies.
January 23rd: Charles Lindbergh Urges Pact with Nazi Germany
January 23, 2023
- 04:40
On January 23, 1941, Charles Lindbergh calls for a pact with Nazi Germany.
January 20th: FDR Becomes First President Inaugurated On New Date
January 20, 2023
- 05:11
On January 20, 1937, FDR becomes the first president inaugurated on January 20th.
January 19th: The ACLU Is Founded
January 19, 2023
- 04:47
On January 19, 1920, the ACLU is founded.
January 18th: "The Jeffersons" Premieres On CBS
January 18, 2023
- 05:35
On January 18, 1975, “The Jeffersons” premieres on CBS.
January 17th: President Eisenhower's Farewell Address
January 17, 2023
- 06:00
On January 17, 1961, Dwight Eisenhower delivers his Farewell Address.
January 16th: Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
January 16, 2023
- 04:41
On January 16, 1786, Virginia ratifies Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom.
January 13th: Trump Is Impeached For Incitement To Insurrection
January 13, 2023
- 05:03
On January 13, 2021, Donald Trump is impeached for incitement to insurrection.
January 12th: Earthquake Strikes Haiti
January 12, 2023
- 03:38
On January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake strikes Haiti.
January 11th: Alexander Hamilton Is Born
January 11, 2023
- 05:27
On January 11, 1755 (or 57), Alexander Hamilton is born.
January 10th: Thomas Paine Publishes “Common Sense”
January 10, 2023
- 04:48
January 10th: Thomas Paine Publishes “Common Sense”
January 9th: George H.W. Bush's Letter To Saddam Hussein
January 9, 2023
- 05:45
On January 9, 1991, George H.W. Bush writes a letter to Saddam Hussein on the eve of war.
January 6th: Insurrection At The U.S. Capitol
January 6, 2023
- 07:26
On January 6, 2021, insurrectionists storm the U.S. Capitol.
January 5th: Truman Announces A Fair Deal
January 5, 2023
- 05:06
On January 5, 1949, Harry Truman announces a Fair Deal for America.
January 4th: Nancy Pelosi Elected Speaker Of The House
January 4, 2023
- 06:02
On January 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi is elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
January 3rd: Alaska Joins The Union
January 3, 2023
- 04:38
On January 3, 1959, Alaska joins the Union.
January 2nd: JFK Announces Candidacy For President
January 2, 2023
- 04:37
On January 2, 1960, John F. Kennedy announces his campaign for President.
December 30th: Lincoln Prepares To Issue Emancipation Proclamation
December 30, 2022
- 04:57
On December 30, 1862, Abraham Lincoln prepares to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
December 29th: Lincoln Resists The Crittenden Compromise
December 29, 2022
- 05:21
On December 29, 1860, Abraham Lincoln resists calls for pro-slavery compromise.
December 28th: John C. Calhoun Resigns
December 28, 2022
- 05:31
On December 28, 1832, John C. Calhoun resigns as Vice President of the United States.
December 27th: Apollo 8 Returns To Earth
December 27, 2022
- 04:24
On December 27, 1968, Apollo 8 returns to Earth.
December 26th: Churchill's Address To Congress
December 26, 2022
- 05:21
On December 26, 1941, Winston Churchill addresses the U.S. Congress.
December 23rd: ‘On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity'
December 23, 2022
- 05:34
John Milton's 'On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity’
December 22nd: Is There a Santa Claus?
December 22, 2022
- 04:43
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.
December 21st: F. Scott Fitzgerald Dies
December 21, 2022
- 04:03
On December 21, 1940, F. Scott Fitzgerald dies.
December 20th: South Carolina Secedes
December 20, 2022
- 04:56
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina secedes from the Union.
December 19th: Thomas Paine’s ‘American Crisis’ Is Published
December 19, 2022
- 05:32
On December 19, 1776, Thomas Paine’s ‘American Crisis’ is published.
December 16th: The Boston Tea Party
December 16, 2022
- 05:20
On December 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party takes place.
December 15th: Adolf Eichmann Is Sentenced To Death
December 15, 2022
- 05:27
On December 15, 1961, Adolf Eichmann is sentenced to death.
December 14th: Tragedy Strikes Sandy Hook Elementary
December 14, 2022
- 04:29
On December 14, 2012, tragedy strikes Sandy Hook Elementary.
December 13th: Saddam Hussein Is Captured
December 13, 2022
- 05:57
On December 13, 2003, Saddam Hussein is captured.
December 12th: Hitler Accelerates The Holocaust
December 12, 2022
- 04:46
On December 12, 1941, Adolf Hitler accelerates the Holocaust.
December 9th: U.S. Troops Arrive In Somalia
December 9, 2022
- 05:28
On December 9, 1992, U.S. troops arrive in Somalia.
December 8th: John Lennon Is Shot Dead
December 8, 2022
- 07:39
On December 8, 1980, John Lennon is shot to death in New York City.
December 7th: Eleanor Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Radio Address
December 7, 2022
- 04:34
On December 7, 1941, Eleanor Roosevelt addresses the nation.
December 6th: Jefferson Davis Dies
December 6, 2022
- 05:21
On December 6, 1889, Jefferson Davis dies in New Orleans.
December 5th: John Quincy Adams Takes Seat In U.S. House
December 5, 2022
- 04:00
On December 5, 1831, John Quincy Adams takes a seat in the U.S. House.
December 2nd: John Brown Is Executed
December 2, 2022
- 04:07
On December 2, 1859, John Brown is executed.
December 1st: Lincoln's Annual Message To Congress
December 1, 2022
- 05:01
On December 1, 1862, Abraham Lincoln publishes his annual message to Congress.
November 30th: Winston Churchill Is Born
November 30, 2022
- 06:59
On November 30, 1874, Winston Churchill is born at Blenheim Palace.
November 29th: The Tehran Conference Unfolds
November 29, 2022
- 05:11
On November 29, 1943, the Tehran Conference unfolds.
November 28th: The Grand Ole Opry Debuts
November 28, 2022
- 05:02
On November 28th, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry debuts in Nashville.
November 23rd: Johnson Declares Day Of Mourning For JFK
November 23, 2022
- 03:47
On November 23, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson declares a day of mourning for John F. Kennedy.
November 22nd: John F. Kennedy Is Assassinated
November 22, 2022
- 04:54
On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy is assassinated.
November 21st: The Gettysburg Address, Continued
November 21, 2022
- 05:21
On November 21, 1863, The Gettysburg Address, continued.
November 18th: Lincoln Travels To Gettysburg
November 18, 2022
- 05:23
On November 18, 1863, Abraham Lincoln travels to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to dedicate a national cemetery.
November 17th: Nixon Says He's "Not a Crook"
November 17, 2022
- 04:26
On November 17, 1973, Richard Nixon asserts that he is “not a crook.”
November 16th: John Bright Is Born
November 16, 2022
- 05:47
On November 16, 1811, the English reformer John Bright is born.
November 15th: FDR Lays Cornerstone Of Jefferson Memorial
November 15, 2022
- 05:60
On November 15, 1939, FDR lays the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial.
November 14th: Ruby Bridges Desegregates Elementary School
November 14, 2022
- 05:23
On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges desegregates the William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans.
November 11th: The Great War Ends
November 11, 2022
- 05:14
On November 11, 1918, The Great War ends.
November 10th: Sesame Street Debuts
November 10, 2022
- 04:16
On November 10, 1969, Sesame Street debuts.
November 9th: The Berlin Wall Falls
November 9, 2022
- 05:55
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall falls.
November 8th: FDR Wins Presidential Race
November 8, 2022
- 04:51
On November 8, 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt wins the 1932 presidential race.
November 7th: Lord Dunmore's Proclamation
November 7, 2022
- 04:37
On November 7, 1775, Lord Dunmore promises freedom to the enslaved who fight American revolutionaries.
November 4th: The Iran Hostage Crisis Begins
November 4, 2022
- 04:60
On November 4, 1979, the American Hostage Crisis in Iran begins.
November 3rd: Nixon's "Silent Majority" Speech
November 3, 2022
- 04:45
On November 3, 1969, Richard Nixon delivers his “Silent Majority” speech.
November 2nd: Reagan Signs The King Holiday Bill Into Law
November 2, 2022
- 05:11
On November 2, 1983, President Reagan signs the bill creating the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday.
November 1st: Reflections on the Revolution in France
November 1, 2022
- 05:11
On November 1, 1790, Edmund Burke publishes Reflections on the Revolution in France.
October 31st: The Battle of Britain Ends
October 31, 2022
- 04:15
On October 31, 1940, the Battle of Britain ends in victory for the forces of freedom.
October 28th: The Reagan-Carter Presidential Debate
October 28, 2022
- 05:18
On October 28, 1980, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan meet in debate.
October 27th: Reagan Delivers "A Time For Choosing"
October 27, 2022
- 04:51
On October 27, 1964, Ronald Reagan makes the case for Barry Goldwater.
October 26th: Southern Horrors Is Published
October 26, 2022
- 05:28
On October 26, 1892, Ida B. Wells publishes Southern Horrors.
October 25th: The Bolshevik Revolution Unfolds
October 25, 2022
- 04:50
On October 25, 1917, The Bolshevik Revolution unfolds.
October 24th: The United Nations Is Established
October 24, 2022
- 04:60
On October 24, 1945, The United Nations is formally established.
October 21st: The Second Reagan-Mondale Presidential Debate
October 21, 2022
- 04:57
On October 21, 1984, Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale meet in a second presidential debate.
October 20th: Herbert Hoover Dies
October 20, 2022
- 04:22
On October 20, 1964, Herbert Hoover dies at age 90.
October 19th: The Cuban Missile Crisis Unfolds
October 19, 2022
- 06:23
On October 19, 1962, The Cuban Missile Crisis unfolds.
October 18th: Lincoln Orders Completion Of Capitol Dome
October 18, 2022
- 05:05
On October 18, 1861, Lincoln orders that the Capitol dome be completed amid the Civil War.
October 17th: President Ford Testifies About Pardoning Nixon
October 17, 2022
- 05:22
On October 17, 1974, President Ford testifies before Congress on the pardon of Richard Nixon.
October 14th: Theodore Roosevelt Is Shot
October 14, 2022
- 04:36
On October 14, 1912, Theodore Roosevelt is shot—but still gives a speech.
From Bad Women: The Blackout Ripper Stalks London’s War-Torn Streets
October 13, 2022
- 16:14
Here’s a preview of Bad Women: The Blackout Ripper. Over a single week in February 1942, a depraved serial killer stalked London’s dark...
October 13th: The Second Bush-Dukakis Presidential Debate
October 13, 2022
- 03:60
On October 13, 1988, George Bush and Michael Dukakis meet in debate.
October 12th: Nixon Nominates Gerald Ford As Vice President
October 12, 2022
- 04:30
On October 12, 1973, Richard Nixon nominates Gerald Ford to be vice president.
October 11th: The Reykjavík Summit
October 11, 2022
- 05:10
On October 11, 1986, Reagan and Gorbachev meet at Rekyavik, Iceland.
October 10th: Vice President Agnew Resigns
October 10, 2022
- 04:59
On October 10, 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigns.
October 7th: Afghan War Begins
October 7, 2022
- 05:26
On October 7, 2001, the Afghan War begins.
October 6th: Anwar Sadat Is Assassinated
October 6, 2022
- 04:23
On October 6, 1981, Anwar Sadat of Egypt is assassinated.
October 5th: First White House TV Address
October 5, 2022
- 04:58
On October 5, 1947, President Truman delivers the first-ever televised address from the Oval Office.
October 4th: The Crimean War Begins
October 4, 2022
- 03:41
On October 4, 1853, The Crimean War begins.
October 3rd: O.J. Simpson Is Acquitted
October 3, 2022
- 05:31
On October 3, 1995, O.J. Simpson is acquitted of murder.
September 30: Munich Agreement Is Reached
September 30, 2022
- 04:43
On September 30, 1938, the Munich Agreement is reached.
September 29: Cornerstone Of Washington National Cathedral Is Laid
September 29, 2022
- 04:06
On September 29, 1907, the cornerstone of Washington National Cathedral is laid.
September 28: Constitution Is Submitted For Ratification
September 28, 2022
- 05:07
On September 28, 1787, the Confederation Congress sends the Constitution to the states for ratification.
September 27: Silent Spring Is Published
September 27, 2022
- 04:45
On September 27, 1962, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring is published.
September 26: First Kennedy-Nixon Debate
September 26, 2022
- 04:42
On September 26, 1960, the first Kennedy-Nixon debate is televised.
September 23rd: Nixon's Checkers Speech
September 23, 2022
- 05:23
On September 23, 1952, Richard Nixon delivers his “Checkers Speech.”
September 22nd: Lincoln Issues Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
September 22, 2022
- 05:10
On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln issues the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
September 21st: Flight 93 Cockpit Tape Is Reported
September 21, 2022
- 05:01
On September 21, 2001, the cockpit tape of Flight 93 is reported
September 20th: Truman Gives Republicans Hell
September 20, 2022
- 05:47
On September 20, 1948, Harry Truman gives ‘em hell in Denver.
September 19th: Washington’s Farewell Address Is Published
September 19, 2022
- 06:11
On September 19, 1796, Washington’s Farewell Address is published.
September 16th: Mayflower Sets Sail For America
September 16, 2022
- 04:06
On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower sets sail for America.
September 15th: 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
September 15, 2022
- 05:04
On September 15, 1963, Ku Klux Klansmen bomb Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church.
September 14th: Theodore Roosevelt Succeeds To The Presidency
September 14, 2022
- 03:35
None
September 13th: Martin Luther King Jr. Speaks At The Berlin Wall
September 13, 2022
- 05:13
On September 13, 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. speaks at the Berlin Wall.
September 12th: George W. Bush Defines Post-9/11 World
September 12, 2022
- 04:43
On September 12, 2001, George W. Bush defines the stakes of the post-9/11 world.
September 9th: Elvis Presley Appears On The Ed Sullivan Show
September 9, 2022
- 05:29
On September 9, 1956, Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show.
September 8th: Huey Long is shot
September 8, 2022
- 04:48
On September 8, 1935, Huey Long is shot in Baton Rouge.
September 7th: The Blitz Begins
September 7, 2022
- 05:31
On September 7, 1940, The Blitz begins.
September 6th: USSR Acknowledges Korean Airlines Shootdown
September 6, 2022
- 05:18
On September 6, 1983, the Soviet Union acknowledges shooting down Korean Airlines Flight 007.
September 5th: Wallace Campaign Gains Momentum
September 5, 2022
- 05:16
On September 5, 1968, George Wallace’s third-party presidential campaign gains momentum.
September 2nd: World War II comes to a close
September 2, 2022
- 05:02
On September 2, 1945, World War II comes to a close.
September 1st: World War II begins
September 1, 2022
- 06:03
On September 1, 1939, World War II begins.
August 31st: The Battle of Atlanta begins
August 31, 2022
- 04:32
On August 31, 1864, the Battle of Atlanta begins.
August 30th: The Washington-Moscow hotline is established
August 30, 2022
- 05:37
On August 30, 1963, the Washington-Moscow hotline is established.
August 29th: Shays’ Rebellion begins
August 29, 2022
- 04:36
On August 29, 1786, Shays’ Rebellion begins.
August 26th: President Ford Endorses the Equal Rights Amendment
August 26, 2022
- 04:52
On August 26, 1974, President Ford endorses the Equal Rights Amendment.
August 25th: John Birch Is Killed
August 25, 2022
- 05:21
On August 25, 1945, John Birch is killed in the Far East.
August 24th: England Adopts the Book of Common Prayer
August 24, 2022
- 04:20
On August 24, 1662, England adopts the Book of Common Prayer.
August 23rd: Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact Is Signed
August 23, 2022
- 04:17
On August 23, 1939, the Nazi-Soviet nonaggression pact is signed, clearing the way to World War II.
August 22nd: Fannie Lou Hamer Speaks Out For Civil Rights
August 22, 2022
- 05:01
On August 22, 1964, Fannie Lou Hamer calls for an end to segregation at the Democratic National Convention.
August 19th: Goldwater Begins General Election Campaign
August 19, 2022
- 05:09
On August 19, 1964, Barry Goldwater opens his 1964 general-election campaign.
August 18th: James Meredith Graduates
August 18, 2022
- 04:22
On August 18, 1963, James Meredith graduates from the University of Mississippi.
August 17th: Lincoln Defends the Declaration of Independence
August 17, 2022
- 05:22
On August 17, 1858, Abraham Lincoln defends the Declaration of Independence.
August 16th: World Reacts to Atlantic Charter
August 16, 2022
- 05:43
On August 16, 1941, the world reacts to the Atlantic Charter.
August 15th: The Wizard of Oz Premieres in Hollywood
August 15, 2022
- 04:25
On August 15th, 1939, The Wizard of Oz Premieres in Hollywood.
August 12th: Lincoln's Proclamation of Prayer and Fasting
August 12, 2022
- 04:52
On August 12, 1861, President Lincoln calls for a national day of prayer and fasting.
August 11th: John Henry Cardinal Newman Dies
August 11, 2022
- 05:07
On August 11, 1890, John Henry Cardinal Newman dies.
August 10th: Reagan Apologizes For Japanese Internment
August 10, 2022
- 05:10
On August 10, 1988, President Reagan apologizes for the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
August 9th: Atomic Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki
August 9, 2022
- 05:41
On August 9, 1945, the second atomic bomb is used against Nagasaki.
August 8th: Richard Nixon Announces His Resignation
August 8, 2022
- 05:45
On August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon announces his resignation.
August 5th: Republican National Convention Begins
August 5, 2022
- 04:43
On August 5, 1968, The Republican National Convention opens in Miami Beach.
August 4th: Fairness Doctrine Is Repealed
August 4, 2022
- 05:14
On August 4, 1987, The Fairness Doctrine is repealed.
August 3rd: Jesse Owens Begins Olympic Streak
August 3, 2022
- 04:36
On August 3, 1936, Jesse Owens begins his historic Olympic streak at the Berlin games.
August 2nd: Calvin Coolidge Becomes President
August 2, 2022
- 04:28
On August 2, 1923, Calvin Coolidge becomes president upon the death of Warren G. Harding.
August 1st: Slavery is Abolished in the British Empire
August 1, 2022
- 04:48
On August 1, 1834, Slavery is Abolished in Much of the British Empire.
July 29th: Prince Charles Marries Lady Diana
July 29, 2022
- 04:55
On July 29th, 1981, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer marry at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
July 28th: The 14th Amendment is Certified
July 28, 2022
- 04:14
On July 28th, 1868, the 14th Amendment is certified.
July 27th: Bugs Bunny Is Released
July 27, 2022
- 04:40
On July 27th, 1940, the first Bugs Bunny cartoon is released.
July 26th: The Cuban Revolution Begins
July 26, 2022
- 04:30
On July 26th, 1953, the Cuban Revolution begins.
July 25th: Emmett Till Is Born
July 25, 2022
- 04:15
On July 25th, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, Emmett Till is born.
July 22nd: FDR's Plan To Pack The Court Fails
July 22, 2022
- 04:56
On July 22nd, 1937, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s court-packing plan is defeated.
July 21st: Union Forces Defeated At Bull Run
July 21, 2022
- 05:02
On July 21st, 1861, Union forces are defeated at Bull Run, Virginia.
July 20th: Hitler Survives An Assassination Attempt
July 20, 2022
- 05:34
On July 20th, 1944, Adolf Hitler survives an assassination attempt at Wolf’s Lair.
July 19th: The Women's Rights Convention
July 19, 2022
- 04:44
On July 19th, 1848, The Women’s Rights Convention opens in Seneca Falls, New York.
July 18th: A Shooting In San Ysidro
July 18, 2022
- 04:58
On July 18th, 1984, a gunman opens fire at a McDonald’s in San Ysidro, California.
July 15th: The First Atomic Bomb Test
July 15, 2022
- 05:24
On July 15th, 1945, in New Mexico, the United States prepares for the first atomic bomb test.
July 14th: Rockefeller Attacks The "Radical Right"
July 14, 2022
- 06:28
On July 14th, 1963, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller attacks the ‘Radical Right’ of His Own Party.
July 13th: The Northwest Ordinance
July 13, 2022
- 04:37
On July 13th, 1787, the Continental Congress passes the Northwest Ordinance, setting a new policy on slavery.
July 12th: The Battle of Fort Stevens
July 12, 2022
- 04:40
On July 12, 1864, the Battle of Fort Stevens threatens Washington, D.C.
July 11th: Skylab Disintegrates
July 11, 2022
- 05:38
On July 11, 1979, the American Space Station Skylab Disintegrates.
July 8th: Roswell Reports Go Public
July 8, 2022
- 05:07
On July 8th, 1947, the Roswell, New Mexico, “flying saucer” report goes public.
July 7th: Reagan Appoints Sandra Day O'Connor
July 7, 2022
- 04:48
On July 7, 1981, Ronald Reagan appoints Sandra Day O’Connor to the Supreme Court.
July 6th: William Faulker Dies
July 6, 2022
- 05:56
On July 6, 1962, in Bayhalia Mississippi, William Faulkner dies.
July 5th: Frederick Douglass Speaks in New York
July 5, 2022
- 04:27
On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass speaks in Rochester, New York.
July 1st: Gettysburg Begins
July 1, 2022
- 04:29
On July 1, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg begins.
June 30th: The National Organization for Women Is Founded
June 30, 2022
- 05:01
On June 30, 1966, the National Organization for Women is founded.
June 29th: The Feast Day
June 29, 2022
- 04:24
June 29th, The Feast Day of Saints Peter and Saint Paul.
June 28th: Archduke Franz Ferdinand Is Assassinated
June 28, 2022
- 05:16
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated in Sarajevo.
June 27th: "Captain Kangaroo" Is Born
June 27, 2022
- 04:49
On June 27, 1927, in Lynbrook, New York… Bob Keeshan, “Captain Kangaroo,” is born.
June 24th: Catholic Politicians Respond To Church's Abortion Views
June 24, 2022
- 05:34
On June 24th, 1990, The Catholic Church discusses excommunicating politicians who disagree with the church on abortion rights
June 23rd: Nixon's Cover Up
June 23, 2022
- 04:15
On June 23rd, 1972, Richard Nixon conspires to cover up the Watergate investigation.
June 22nd: Hitler Invades The USSR
June 22, 2022
- 04:47
On June 22nd, 1941, Adolf Hitler invades the Soviet Union.
June 21st: Three Murders In Neshoba County
June 21, 2022
- 05:46
On June 21st, 1964, three civil-rights workers are killed in Neshoba County, Mississippi
June 20th: The United States Is Named
June 20, 2022
- 04:57
On June 20th, 1787, The Constitutional Convention moves to call the nation “The United States.”
June 17th: The Watergate Burglary
June 17, 2022
- 04:49
On June 17th , 1972, the Watergate burglary is discovered.
June 16th: Lincoln's address, "A House Divided"
June 16, 2022
- 04:51
On June 16th, 1858, Abraham Lincoln delivers his “House Divided” address in Springfield.
June 15th: Mourning Medgar Evers
June 15, 2022
- 04:09
On June 15th, 1963, Civil-rights leaders hold white Southern leaders accountable for the assassination of the NAACP’s Medgar Evers.
June 14th: Harriet Beecher Stowe Is Born
June 14, 2022
- 04:25
On June 14th, 1811, in Litchfield, Connecticut, Harriet Beecher Stowe is born.
June 13th: LBJ Nominates Thurgood Marshall
June 13, 2022
- 05:06
On June 13th, 1967, Lyndon B. Johnson nominates Thurgood Marshall as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
June 10th: Women Secure The Right To Vote
June 10, 2022
- 05:24
On June 10th, 1919, Wisconsin and Michigan become the first states to ratify the 19th Amendment.
June 9th: Joseph Welch Confronts Joseph McCarthy
June 9, 2022
- 04:32
On June 9th, 1954, Joseph Welch confronts Joseph McCarthy.
June 8th: Orwell's 1984 Is Published
June 8, 2022
- 04:50
On June 8th, 1949, George Orwell’s 1984 is published.
June 7th: Homer Plessy Is Arrested
June 7, 2022
- 05:21
On June 7th, 1892, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Homer Plessy is arrested for violating the Louisiana Separate Car Act.
June 6th: Franklin D. Roosevelt's Prayer
June 6, 2022
- 05:21
On June 6, 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers a prayer before perhaps the largest audience in human history.
June 3rd: The Miracle of Dunkirk
June 3, 2022
- 03:39
On June 3rd, 1940, the miracle of Dunkirk unfolds.
June 2nd: Lou Gehrig Passed Away
June 2, 2022
- 04:20
On June 2nd, 1941, in the Bronx, Lou Gehrig passed away.
June 1st: Senator Margaret Chase Smith Denounces McCarthyism
June 1, 2022
- 05:22
On June 1st, 1950, Senator Margaret Chase Smith delivers her “Declaration of Conscience” speech.
May 31st: The Tulsa Race Massacre Unfolds
May 31, 2022
- 05:28
On May 31st, 1921, the Tulsa Race Massacre unfolds in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
May 30th: The Lincoln Memorial Is Dedicated
May 30, 2022
- 05:53
On May 30th, 1922, the Lincoln Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C.
May 27th: Peter the Great Founds St. Petersburg
May 27, 2022
- 04:06
On May 27, 1703, Peter the Great founds the city of Saint Petersburg.
May 26th: Dorothea Lange is Born
May 26, 2022
- 05:23
On May 26, 1895, the photographer Dorothea Lange is born.
May 25th: Star Wars Is Released
May 25, 2022
- 04:39
On May 25, 1977, the original “Star Wars” film is released.
May 24th: The First Telegraph Is Sent
May 24, 2022
- 05:05
On May 24, 1844, Samuel Morse sends a successful telegraphic message.
May 23rd: William Harvey Carney Receives Medal of Honor
May 23, 2022
- 05:12
On May 23, 1900, William Harvey Carney is awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic action in the Civil War.
May 20th: Prisoners Arrive At Aushwitz
May 20, 2022
- 04:38
On May 20, 1940, the first prisoners arrive at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi death camp.
May 19th: MLK's Letter From A Birmingham Jail
May 19, 2022
- 04:39
On May 19, 1963, The New York Post Magazine publishes excerpts of Martin Luther King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail.
May 18th: Abraham Lincoln Is Nominated
May 18, 2022
- 04:33
On May 18, 1860, Abraham Lincoln is nominated for president by the Republican Party in Chicago
May 17th: Brown v. Board of Education
May 17, 2022
- 04:24
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court rules in Brown v. Board of Education
May 16th: President Andrew Johnson Faces Removal
May 16, 2022
- 05:12
On May 16, 1868, Andrew Johnson survives removal from office by a single vote.
May 13th: Pope John Paul II Is Shot
May 13, 2022
- 03:54
On May 13, 1981, in the Vatican City, Pope John Paul II was shot by a would-be assassin.
May 12th: The USSR Lifts Its Blockade Of Berlin
May 12, 2022
- 04:30
On May 12, 1949, The Soviet Union lifts its blockade of Berlin.
May 11th: Ellis Island Becomes A National Monument
May 11, 2022
- 05:07
On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island becomes part of the Statue of Liberty national monument.
May 10th: Nelson Mandela Becomes President
May 10, 2022
- 04:49
On May 10, 1994, in South Africa, Nelson Mandela is sworn in as president of South Africa.
May 9th: The Abolitionsist John Brown Is Born
May 9, 2022
- 05:16
On May 9, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut… the abolitionist John Brown is born.
May 6th: The Hindenburg Explodes
May 6, 2022
- 04:33
On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg exploded as it prepared to make mooring at Lakehurst, New Jersey, killing 36 people.
May 5th: The First American In Space
May 5, 2022
- 04:43
On May 5th 1961, Navy Commander Alan Shepard, Jr., became the first American to travel in space.
May 4th: The First Freedom Ride
May 4, 2022
- 06:03
On May 4, 1961, the first Freedom Ride leaves Washington, D.C., for the segregated South.
May 3rd: Margaret Thatcher Is Elected
May 3, 2022
- 05:23
On May 3, 1979, Margaret Thatcher was elected prime minister of Great Britain.
May 2nd: Osama Bin Laden Is Killed
May 2, 2022
- 05:16
On May 2, 2011, in Pakistan, U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden.
April 29th: Aretha Franklin Releases Respect
April 29, 2022
- 05:48
On April 29, 1967, Aretha Franklin released “Respect.”
April 28th: Harper Lee Is Born
April 28, 2022
- 05:57
On April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama, the writer Harper Lee was born.
April 27th: One World Trade Center
April 27, 2022
- 05:10
On April 27, 2006, in downtown Manhattan, Construction on One World Trade Center began.
April 26th: Fenway's First Homerun
April 26, 2022
- 05:09
On April 26, 1912, in Boston, Massachusetts, the first home run at Fenway Park was hit.
April 25th: The United Negro College Fund Is Incorporated
April 25, 2022
- 06:40
On April 25th, 1944, The United Negro College Fund was incorporated.
April 22nd: Richard Nixon Dies
April 22, 2022
- 05:50
April 22st, 1994. The day Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, dies.
April 21st: Queen Elizabeth Is Born
April 21, 2022
- 05:06
April 21st, 1926. The day the future Queen Elizabeth II is born.
April 20th: Macbeth Premiers
April 20, 2022
- 04:37
April 20th, 1611. The day William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is staged at the Globe.
April 19th: The Oklahoma City Bombing
April 19, 2022
- 05:55
April 19th, 1995. The day domestic terrorists attacked America in Oklahoma City.
April 18th: Paul Revere's Ride
April 18, 2022
- 05:55
April 18th, 1775. The day Paul Revere galloped into history to warn American revolutionaries that the British were coming.
April 15th: Jackie Robinson Joins The Majors
April 15, 2022
- 06:36
On April 15th, 1946, in Brooklyn, New York, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
April 14th: The Titanic Sinks
April 14, 2022
- 06:07
On April 14th, 1912, in the North Atlantic Ocean, the mighty ship Titanic sank.
April 13th: Thomas Jefferson Is Born
April 13, 2022
- 06:55
On April 13th, 1743, in Albermale County, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson was born.
April 12th: The Polio Vaccine Is Approved
April 12, 2022
- 05:53
On April 12th, 1955, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dr. Jonas Salk’s vaccine for polio was approved.
April 11th: LBJ Signs The Civil Rights Bill
April 11, 2022
- 07:07
On April 11th, 1968, at the White House, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
April 8th: The 13th Amendment Is Passed
April 8, 2022
- 07:14
On April 8th, 1864, in Washington, DC, the United States Senate passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
April 7th: Francis Ford Coppola Is Born
April 7, 2022
- 04:46
On April 7th, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, the film director Francis Ford Coppola was born.
April 6th: The Battle of Shiloh Begins
April 6, 2022
- 04:37
On April 6th, 1862, in Hardin County, Tennessee, The Battle of Shiloh began.
April 5th: Churchill Resigns
April 5, 2022
- 05:55
On April 5th, 1955, in London, England, Winston Churchill resigned as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
April 4th: NATO Is Formed
April 4, 2022
- 06:08
On April 4th, 1949, In Washington, DC, the United States signed a treaty that led to the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Welcome to Reflections of History, with Jon Meacham
March 31, 2022
- 01:25
Welcome to Reflections of History. From the creators of the 2021 Webby Award-Winning Best Podcast Series, It Was Said, and Hope Through...
To Bend The Arc
May 26, 2021
- 27:26
Progress isn’t inevitable. Justice is forever elusive. Liberty is always fragile. What will it take for America to find its better...
One Nation, Under God?
May 19, 2021
- 20:22
The religious right becomes a force in American politics. Guided by a belief that Christianity belongs at the center of public life,...
Dashed Hopes
May 12, 2021
- 30:33
Republican presidents in second half of the 20th century were not strangers to extreme rhetoric and hardline statements, but in practice...
First Blood
May 5, 2021
- 26:31
From the Yalta Conference to the centrist Dwight Eisenhower administration, members of the far-right feel a sense of betrayal as the...
Rendezvous With Destiny
April 28, 2021
- 27:02
LBJ announces his vision for a "Great Society" in an America predominately defined by two competing visions, both rooted in a shared...
Welcome to Fate of Fact
April 16, 2021
- 03:51
Welcome to a new audio documentary, Fate of Fact, a presentation of Shining City Audio, a C13Originals and Jon Meacham studio....