President Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev in Red Square during the Moscow Summit. 5/31/88.
More Photos - Summits with Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev
Source: reagan.utexas.edu
Before They Were Presidents
Gerald R. Ford’s Law School Application to the University of Michigan. May 26, 1937.
Source: presidentialtimeline.org
May 29, 1917: John Fitzgerald Kennedy Born
On this day in 1917, John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Cape Cod served as the backdrop for Kennedy family gatherings over many years. Browse this gallery of Kennedy family photographs taken at the Hyannis Port compound.
Photos from the John F. Kennedy Library, Boston.
Source: to.pbs.org
Presidential Memorabilia
After Theodore Roosevelt won the 1904 election, he stated that he would not be a candidate for President again. However, as the sitting President of the party, he had a strong influence over who the Republicans would nominate in 1908.
William Howard Taft, a close political friend of Roosevelt’s, received the nomination on the first ballot. This stickpin from the archives of the Truman Presidential Library features a portrait photograph of William Howard Taft.
On this day, President John F. Kennedy was born -
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, made the following entry on a notecard, when her second child was born:
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Born Brookline, Mass. (83 Beals Street) May 29, 1917
In all, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy would have nine children, four boys and five girls. JFK was named in honor of his mother’s father, John Francis Fitzgerald, the Boston Mayor popularly known as Honey Fitz.
Before long, family and friends called this small blue-eyed baby, Jack. Read More
On the 95th anniversary of the birth of President Kennedy, here’s an album of Kennedy family photos from the JFK Library:
Source: jfklibrary.org
Memorial Day
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day - a time set aside to honor fallen soldiers of the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers. The first Decoration Day was observed on May 30, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War. On that day, the largest known ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery, across the river from Washington D.C. Read More
This Memorial Day weekend, we honor and thank all of the men and women who have served our country.
Source: whitehouse.gov
May 25, 1961
Watch President John F. Kennedy’s deliver his message to Congress on the “urgent national need” to send a man safely to the moon.
Source: jfklibrary.org
Irving Berlin and other stars at the White House
Richard Nixon is joined by First Lady Pat Nixon and several celebrities in the singing of “God Bless America.” (Left to Right) Phyllis Diller, Mary Ann Mobley, Joey Heatherton, President Nixon, Irving Berlin, Sammy Davis Jr., Pat Nixon, and Bob Hope. The event was a White House Dinner for POW’s held on May 24, 1973.
Jazz legend Duke Ellington died on this day, May 24, 1974
On April 24, 1969, Ellington celebrated his 70th birthday at the White House where he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The medal was presented by President Richard Nixon, who himself had played the piano since childhood. From the President’s remarks:
“When we think of freedom, we think of many things. But Duke Ellington is one who has carried the message of freedom to all the nations of the world through music, through understanding, understanding that reaches over all national boundaries and over all boundaries of prejudice and over all boundaries of language..
In the royalty of American music, no man swings more or stands higher than the Duke.”
Afterwards, the President played “Happy Birthday” on the piano for the Duke while guests at the White House sang along.
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington
April 29, 1899 - May 24, 1974
Source: research.archives.gov
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.
Source: bushlibrary.tamu.edu
