Latest Episodes
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.
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
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.
Presenting Gone South Season 2: The Dixie Mafia
December 3, 2022
- 03:21
Welcome to Season Two of Gone South, the Edward R. Murrow Award winning documentary podcast from C13Originals. Starting in the early...
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....