ourpresidents:
Charles Lindbergh captured the world’s imagination when he flew non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean by himself. Others had flown the distance as teams, but “Lucky Lindy” was the first pilot to do it alone. It took him 33 1/2 hours, between May 20-21, 1927.
Lindbergh was greeted with a hero’s return when he traveled back to the United States. In Washington D.C., President Coolidge welcomed his ship through the Chesapeake and the Potomac rivers with a grand entourage of warships and aircraft.
At the time, Herbert Hoover was the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. This photo shows Hoover meeting Lindbergh in Washington D.C. after the trans-Atlantic flight.
-from the Hoover Library
Less than a century ago, it was a feat to fly across the Atlantic Ocean non-stop.
Science!
ourpresidents:
Before they were Presidents -
During World War II, George Bush became a decorated naval pilot who flew torpedo bombers. In 1944, he was shot down over the island of Chi Chi Jima and rescued.
Pictured here is Navy Pilot George Bush in a VT-51 “Avenger,” 1944; and World War II aircraft and ships.
General Eisenhower informs me that the forces of Germany have surrendered to the United Nations. The flags of freedom fly over all Europe.
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President Harry S. Truman, radio address. May 8, 1945
On President Truman’s 61st birthday he announced the surrender of Germany and Victory in Europe, V-E Day.
Listen here
(via ourpresidents)
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ourpresidents:
Imagine a Democrat-Republican Presidential Ticket
Did you know that during his first-term in the White House, Harry S Truman asked General Dwight Eisenhower to run for President?
On July 25, 1947, Truman’s proposal was direct: rather than run for a second term, Truman would run for Vice President on an Eisenhower ticket. Truman would relinquish his role as Commander in Chief, and as Vice President “would be happy outside the great white jail, known as the White House.”
Eisenhower and Truman both described the meeting in their respective diaries. Ike’s entry on the right-hand page begins, “Astounding talk at the White House today.”
Could this happen today? A Democratic President inviting a future Republican candidate to create a very unusual campaign for the Presidency? Well, in a way it is happening. Follow a bit of presidential history on Twitter at @IkeandHarry2012.
ourpresidents:
Strike!
Today in 1947, the White House Bowling Alley opened during the Truman administration. Here are photos of the original alley, featuring two automatic lanes.
Another neat find from the archives is this photo of Walter Reed patients visiting the White House Bowling Alley in 1952.
Interested in White House architecture? The Truman Library is posting weekly photos of White House renovations here. Fascinating to see photos of a gutted White House during construction.
I really like the little tidbits this blog has. You should follow this blog.
Indeed, no matter how your vote, be sure you vote.
ourpresidents:
Cutest Head of State Gift - EVER
The United States received two giant pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, from the People’s Republic of China in April, 1972. The pandas were given as a token of friendship in response to President Nixon’s goodwill trip to China.
First Lady Pat Nixon officially accepted the fuzzy goodwill ambassadors at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. She had been charmed by the pandas she had seen in China and declared at the welcoming ceremony, “I think ‘panda-monium’ is going to break out at the zoo.”
Pat was right, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing were the top attractions at the zoo until their deaths in in the 1990s.
Here, Ling-Ling munches on her snack on her first day in the new Panda House at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. 4/16/1972. Noms.
First Lady Centennial Celebration of Pat Nixon and Lady Bird Johnson
ourpresidents:
President Clinton jogging around the Tidal Basin beneath the blooming Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC. 4/13/93
-from the Clinton Library
pj likes cherry blossoms.
ourpresidents:
Vice President George Bush’s Notes Regarding the Assassination Attempt on President Ronald Reagan, 03/30/1981
This item is a Flight Information Card produced by the 89th Military Airlift Group for use aboard Air Force Two. In addition to information about a flight from Austin, Texas to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, there are notes handwritten by Vice President George H. W. Bush during the flight. These notes record the Vice President’s thoughts after being notified that there had been an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.
I love this blog. So much cool stuff.
Honey, I forgot to duck.
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Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan, shortly before emergency surgery for a gunshot wound to the chest.
George Washington University Hospital, D.C. March 30, 1981.
(via ourpresidents)
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ourpresidents:
This exists. A retractable toothpick - about the size of a golf pencil - given to Lyndon B. Johnson by his Senate office staff. An attached note read,
“To Sen. Johnson - but please don’t use on Senate Floor! From Your Office Staff”
Add this to your list of gift ideas for the boss.
-from the LBJ Library
ourpresidents:
Treaty of Peace Between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel
On March 26, 1979, on the North Grounds of the White House, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin joined hands after the signing of the “Treaty of Peace Between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel.”
This is among the most requested photographs in the holdings of the Carter Library.
More- The Camp David Accords
ourpresidents:
- Who: Herbert Hoover, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone
- Why: Thomas Edison’s 82nd birthday celebration
- Where: Florida
- When: February 11, 1929
Herbert Hoover relaxes in Florida with his old friends. Next on their calendar? Hoover’s presidential inauguration on March 4, 1929.
This is pretty fucking sage.
