POW Week at the Nixon Library
A sheriff-led motorcade will escort Vietnam POWs to the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California at 12:30PM PT. Their arrival at the Library coincides with the 40th anniversary of President Nixon’s POW homecoming dinner at the White House.
An All-American Homecoming is a new exhibit at the Nixon Library about the POWs visit to the White House. The event occurred on May 24, 1973, and it remains the largest dinner ever held at the White House. This week, the Nixon Foundation is hosting a series of events to celebrate the POWs.
Tomorrow evening, on the anniversary of the original White House homecoming, the Foundation will hold a reunion dinner for the POWs in the Nixon Library’s “East Room.” The original menu will be recreated, including American comfort foods like sirloin steak and potatoes.
Learn more about POW Week at the Nixon Library through the Nixon Foundation.
Photo: Entertainers sing “God Bless America” to the returned POW troops at the White House. From L-R: Phyllis Diller, Former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley, actress Joey Heatherton, President Nixon, Songwriter Irving Berlin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Pat Nixon and Comedian Bob Hope. 5/24/73.
Herbert Hoover delivers the Commencement Address at Lincoln University in Harrogate, Tennessee. 6/4/39.
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On May 22, 1975, President Ford nominated Daniel Patrick Moynihan to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations.
Moynihan, who previously served as Ambassador to India, was sworn into his new position on June 30.
Here, the two meet in the Oval Office on November 24, 1975.
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The Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum was dedicated on this day in 1971.
At the ceremony, LBJ described the Library in these words:
“It is all here: the story of our time with the bark off…”
President Nixon gave a speech in which he called LBJ “a partisan of principle and not a partisan of party.” There were anti-war demonstrators, who released black balloons and chanted.
At the conclusion of the dedication, the fountain was ceremonially turned on and several guests were drenched.
Here’s a video of the dedication. Happy birthday LBJ Library!
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L. Gordon Cooper was the first American astronaut to sleep in space. His historic slumber occurred aboard his MA-9 flight, the last Mercury mission.
The MA-9 mission helped NASA learn about the effects of sending astronauts into space for longer time spans. At over 34 hours, Cooper spent more time in space than all of the previous Mercury astronauts combined. In all, he would orbit the Earth 22 times.
Photos from the celebration of L. Gordon Cooper, Jr.’s successful MA-9 Mission. Presentation of Distinguished Service Medal. May 21, 1963.
-L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. family with President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Alan Shephard, Leverett Saltonstall, Everett Dirksen.
-President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.
-from the LBJ Library
More on L. Gordon Cooper from NASA
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Day 40: May 21
Here is a preview of our Scrapbook Interactive from the “Foundations of a Public Life” gallery.
50 Years Ago Today - Mercury 7 Astronauts Visit the White House
(From L-R): Major L. Gordon Cooper, Lieutenant Colonel Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton, Lieutenant Commander Walter Schirra, Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, Commander Alan B. Shepard, and their wives visit the White House
President Reagan delivers a commencement address at his alma mater, Eureka College. Eureka, Illinois. 5/17/82.
-from the Reagan Library
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The American Red Cross was founded on this day — May 21, 1881.
On the founding anniversary of the American Red Cross, here’s Kathleen Kennedy in her A.R.C. uniform from World War II. The photo was taken in London, circa 1943.
Kathleen was the second daughter and fourth child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy.
While in college, Kathleen Kennedy began volunteering for the Red Cross in New York in the summer of 1940. After working for the Times-Herald newspaper, she rejoined the war effort by volunteering again for the Red Cross, this time in London. Read More
-From the JFK Library
Our gratitude goes out to all the volunteers and relief workers of the Red Cross in Oklahoma today, and across the world everyday.
Opening today at the LBJ Library — “The First Ladies Collection” of Madame Alexander dolls. Shown here are two of the dolls that will be on display, Jaqcueline Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson, both dressed in their inaugural gowns.
The dolls will be on display in the Great Hall of the LBJ Library through November.
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